Northern Express - September 27, 2021

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • sept 27 - oct 03, 2021 • Vol. 31 No. 39

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 1

NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES

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MARY ROACH

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2 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

letters

CONTENTS

Leelanau County is Becoming a Theocracy From the public comments made in person at the Sept. 9 special session of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, it is clear that Board Chair Will Bunek’s long running crusade to have the St. Mary’s parochial school community dominate public discourse and bring religion further into the formulation of public policy has gained traction.

First, it was his effort to raise the divisive subject of abortion by bringing St. Mary’s students before the county commission.

Next, it was his effort to purposely exclude Jews, Greek Orthodox, Unitarians, and others who attend religious services in nearby counties from offering the opening prayer.

Finally, it was his effort to undermine the health department by encouraging St. Mary’s parents to reject well-documented medical advice from the Munson Health Center, many local physicians, the CDC, the AMA, and the American Academy of Pediatricians. If we cannot trust our local health department, why don’t we get rid of all the public health restrictions that require all restaurants and public facilities to observe basic hygiene? Now that would be real “freedumb.”

Jay S. Johnson, Empire Township Culture Shift I am saddened by the culture being created in our nation. It is radically changing the integrity, morals, and codes of honor I have believed we are capable of attaining.

I protest how comfortable many feel in defending what is not true. Accepting misinformation and bearing false witness should be intolerable to all.

I protest the efforts of state legislators to boldly pretend there are problems in our election systems. New policies are developed with changes aimed at controlling voters they believe would vote against their party. Sad. I protest using the efforts to end the war we have had for 20 years for political gamesmanship. Biden did not make good judgments to bring the war to an end, but good judgments have been lacking for over a decade.

We were threatened the fighting would begin again by the Taliban if we did not

leave. How many more troops would that require? History will make the judgment about how many mistakes have been made.

I protest and don’t understand the refusal of many to receive vaccinations to protect from the spread of the COVID virus. I am saddened that the health and welfare of our population has become a political issue. School systems and local communities need to make decisions about mask protection.

I protest state governments that have acted to limit and even eliminate safe abortions for woman who are having an unwanted child. Abortions may be considered sinful, but so also is forcing women to have children they are not prepared to care for. Right to life extends beyond the birth of the fetus.

Please be among those willing to protest the supposed reforms to make the country great again. The GOP is taking us in the wrong direction.

Robert McQuilkin, Frankfort Public Vulgarity I have a passed a home on a major road that has an SUV parked in the driveway with a handmade sign on the rear windshield reads, “Foch Witmer.” My original reaction was anger; it has evolved into a feeling of hopelessness.

As a young boy in the ’60s, I raced out onto Traverse City’s Front Street with other kids during Cherry Festival to greet Governor Romney (1963–1969) as he walked in the parade. It was like meeting a political Santa. I was too young to know anything or care about politics; all I understood was that he was an important elected official. When my father came home from work that evening, I said, “Shake the hand that shook Gov. Romney’s.” He laughed and did so.

Fast-forward to today. We are seeing, as a collective society, people expressing opinions protected by the First Amendment.

These opinions range from promoting hope (Give Peace a Chance) to personal attacks on public officials.

To state that I wasn’t a supporter of the previous administration is an enormous understatement. I shared these views with friends and family, but not with the rest of the world. I found that engaging people

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Associate Broker

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didn’t seem to change their mind. The line I would not cross is making signs that criticized the person — and not the policies. If you do not support a party, feel free to say, “I don’t support the Constitution Party.” (This is only used as an example). By attacking the individual, we begin to feel as though we are surrounded by people on the verge of doing something that may threaten all of us.

As I stand in line at the supermarket with my mask on, I can’t help but silently wonder what the person standing next to me is capable of, therefore triggering my fight or flight readiness. I don’t think any of us want to live that way.

I recently was listening to an NPR interview, and this quote that was interjected: “It is easier to think our way into a new way of acting then to act our way into a new way of thinking.” (Jerry Sternin.)

Having an opinion doesn’t mean you have to express it in an offensive way that is disrespectful.

Bing McClellan, Traverse City

features Mortgage Rates Low, But Will That Last?........7

East Jordan.................................................10 The Other Side of the Boom..........................12 At Home with the Accidentals .......................14 Sweet’s Bar & Grill.........................................16

columns & stuff Top Ten........................................................4

Spectator/Stephen Tuttle...............................6 Opinion.........................................................8 Weird............................................................9 Dates.......................................................18 Film.........................................................23 Nitelife.........................................................24 Advice......................................................25 Crossword.................................................25 Astrology....................................................26 Classifieds...............................................26

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Executive Editor: Lynda Twardowski Wheatley Finance & Distribution Manager: Brian Crouch Sales: Kathleen Johnson, Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Randy Sills, Todd Norris, Jill Hayes For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948 Creative Director: Kyra Poehlman Distribution: Dave Anderson, Linda Szarkowski, Sarah Rodery, Randy Sills, Roger Racine Matt Ritter, Gary Twardowski Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold Contributors: Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsny, Ross Boissoneau, Jennifer Hodges, Michael Phillips, Steve Tuttle, Meg Weichman, Anna Faller, Al Parker, Kathleen Wilson, Craig Manning Copyright 2020, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

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Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 3

this week’s

top ten Bigger Sewer System, Better Roads for Antrim — if Gov. Whitmer Approves

Last week, the Michigan Legislature gave the greenlight to two northern Michigan infrastructure projects in the state budget: $500,000 to help Mancelona expand its sewer system along US-131 to reach more homes and businesses and $2 million to repair sections of three roads in Antrim County, ultimately, a complete reconstruction of 4.7 miles of pavement on Del Mason, Schoolcraft and Batchelder roads.

“Northern Michigan is a great place to live and work — and a great place to visit for those from out of town,” says Gaylord-based Rep. Ken Borton, who also serves as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. “Road repairs will make it easier for visitors and local residents to travel in the community, and expanding the Mancelona sewer line will ensure residents and businesses have the reliable access they need. I am proud to see these efforts become reality in this year’s budget.”

The sewer expansion would also have a positive impact on the community’s environment and economics: It would mean existing properties — including lowincome housing — could transition from septic systems and would help encourage new developments on vacant properties.

Both projects are included in Senate Bill 82, which outlines the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, and will now advance to the governor for consideration.

2

tastemaker Funistrada’s Huntsman Tortellini

Quack, Quack — duck season has arrived in northern Michigan.

If layering up in camo and heading out into the deep woods to find your inner outdoorsman is not your thing, don’t worry; there’s another, far easier (and more delicious way) to bag that duck. Tucked away on the far side of Big Glen Lake in Burdickville is long time local and tourist favorite Funistrada Trattoria. This Italian eatery serves a packed house every Tuesday through Sunday evening, year-round. On offer for their fall menu: the Huntsman Tortellini with smoked duck breast, peas, and mushrooms tossed in a rich, garlicky cream sauce. The duck, sourced from third-generation family-run Maple Leaf Farms in Indiana, is smoked in-house daily by resident Funi Chef Jon Viswat. He tells Northern Express he uses a trio of pink apple, hickory, and cherry wood to achieve that “perfect smoky infusion” into the meat. The combo of the sweet smoky duck and luxuriously creamy sauce gives off some serious fall feels. If you can order it before it sells out — as it does on most nights — consider yourself one lucky duck. $29. Find Funistrada on 4566 W. MacFarlane Road in Burdickville/Maple City. (231) 334-3900

4 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

Wanna Fly? “Pushing the limits and breaking boundaries in action sports,” Nitro Circus’ athletes come from all backgrounds and are at the top of their game in FMX, BMX, Skate, Scooter, and just about everything on wheels in between. Enjoy their risk-taking bravery in this showcase of extreme sports entertainment 6pm-8:30pm Saturday, Oct. 2 at Turtle Creek Stadium in Traverse City. Tickets start at $29. facebook.com/events/915452245884678

4

Hey, read it Harlem Shuffle

To the untrained eye in 1960’s Harlem, Ray Carney is just an average Joe. But, behind the guise of his successful furniture store, Ray also deals in dirty money, fencing stolen product for his feckless cousin Freddie. That is, until Freddie implicates Ray in a plan to pinch safe deposit boxes from the Hotel Theresa, aka “The Waldorf of Harlem.” The sting, of course, does not go smoothly, leaving Ray caught between his old life and his questionable customers.

Can Ray maintain his reputation with his hide still intact? From double Pulitzer Prize winning author Colson Whitehead comes dazzling crime debut, “Harlem Shuffle.” A colorful reimaging of the classic wise-guy heist, this bingeable book is “hot” in more ways than one.

5

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Stuff We Love: Shopping Epic Time Capsules

6

Calling all vintage lovers: Moxie Estate Sales is about to open the grandmother of all estate sales on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City.

A departure from typical estate sales where a moderate amount of home goods, furniture and garage items are liquidated before the home changes owners, this sale features an astounding amount of lifelong possessions — all showcased in a home Moxie has transformed into a veritable old-school department store. Think: racks upon racks of cool clothes (from baby to adult sizes), as well as toys, games, records, books, tools, sporting goods, housewares and more, spanning from the 1950s through the 1990s. Highlights include memorabilia from past Cherry Festivals, fan gear from Traverse City Central High, local scouting, and other Michigan items. Check out the sale photos and details at www.MoxieEstates.com and get sneak peeks on Moxie’s Instagram and Facebook pages. The sale runs 9am to 4pm Oct. 1–3 at 15517 Bluff Rd.

Come to Her Window (at Little River Casino)

Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist Melissa Etheridge will rock the stage at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee on October 2. A rock icon since her critically acclaimed eponymous debut album dropped in 1988 and went certified double platinum, Etheridge has made her mark again and again with each follow-up album (and several Grammy noms), including her biggest to date, fourth album Yes I Am, featuring the massive hits “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” for which she won her second Grammy. The show starts at 8pm; tickets — $60, $70, $75 — are available at lrcr.com, search Melissa Etheridge 2021 Tour.

Retain, Exchange, Dispose? Chime in on DNR’s Plans for Public Lands Since 2018, the Department of Natural Resources has been on a mission to scrutinize, with the public’s input, approximately 240,000 acres of state-owned land to determine whether those lands contribute to the department’s mission: to conserve, protect, and manage the state’s natural and cultural resources for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. The DNR is working through 10 counties at a time, and right now dozens of parcels are under review in Alcona, Calhoun, Emmet, Houghton, Keweenaw, Mackinac, Macomb, Mason, Oceana, and St. Clair are under review. If you spend time hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birding, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors on public lands in any of these counties, you’ll want to see what the DNR is recommending for them. So far, it’s looking to retain 66 percent, offer 4.8 percent to an alternate conservation partner, exchange 1.6 percent, and dispose of 27.6 percent. Have we got your attention now? View an interactive map and plan to attend one of two virtual meetings, 6pm Wednesday, Sept. 29, or 2:30pm Thursday, Sept.30. See Michigan.gov/PublicLands to link to the map and meetings, or simply email your thoughts to DNR-StateLandReview@Michigan.gov by Oct. 8.

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231.944.4959 Ann@AnnPorterTC.com 522 E Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686

bottoms up Smash Face Pumpkin Ale The end of summer is always a heartbreaker, but thankfully, we can count on Suttons Bay’s Hop Lot to help us ease into the season with crackling outdoor fires surrounded by trees with changing leaves and, of course, some stellar autumn brews. Fresh out of the taps is the Smash Face Pumpkin Ale, a seriously delicious seasonal ale now in its seventh year of release. Aptly named, this is a beer you will literally want to smash your face into. (Apple bobbing just got an adult twist). Owner and recipe master Steve Lutke designed this beer with fall in mind and leaves it to lead brewer Casey Cross to bring this creation to life. A combo of locally sourced Michigan hops and actual pumpkin pie filling added in during the brewing process forms the fragrant base of this brew, which is finished off with a strong hit of pumpkin spice. Those of us pumpkin-spiced out by early October can rest assured: “The flavors of pumpkin do not overpower the result,” Lutke says. “The goal was to achieve that perfect balance and blend of spice and beer.” We think Smash Face certainly gets it right, crafting this crisp 6.6% lager with cinnamon, caramel notes, and a slight malty sweetness, too. Grab a pint to sit in Hop Lot’s epic beer garden or (and?) 64 oz. growler to go for $14 —but do it quickly, Smash Mouth Ale is only available in October until supplies last. Find Hop Lot at 658 SW Bay Shore Dr. in Suttons Bay 231-866-4445.

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 5

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spectator

by Stephen Tuttle Despite some rather dramatic headlines, America is not awash in crime nor has the pandemic increased most crime categories.

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According to FBI statistics, crime overall in our 25 largest cities was down nearly 30 percent in 2020 from 2019. As might be expected, because far more of us were home in 2020, home burglaries were way down but commercial burglaries and auto thefts rose.

Aggravated assaults were down significantly but, according to the National Commission on Covid-19 and Criminal Justice, domestic

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6 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

The headlines paint a darker picture than necessary, with Chicago as the best example

Though we’ve ample room for improvement, we are not awash in violence, mayhem and murder. violence complaints increased by more than 10 percent, a statistic likely under-reported when the perpetrator and victim are stuck in the same residence.

Sociologists and criminologists have logical sounding explanations for almost all of it, much of which boils down to common sense: Empty buildings are more likely to be burglarized than occupied homes, drunken bar fights don’t happen if the bar is closed or occupancy is significantly limited, more cars are stolen when they’re parked on the street and, in too many cases, familiarity bred further contempt in already at-risk relationships.

The one crime category seemingly unfazed by a pandemic or any thing else, unfortunately, was gun violence and murder, both of which chugged along without much fluctuation up or down. Mass shootings, however, increased significantly 2020 over 2019 and are up even more already this year.

The experts aren’t sure why.

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Our homicide rate of 5.35 per 100,000 citizens doesn’t even put us in the top 100 deadliest countries and is nearly 45 percent lower than it was in 1990. By contrast, the deadliest country in the world, El Salvador, has a startling homicide rate of 82.84 per 100,000 population, more than 16 times that of the U.S. We’re far down that list, wedged between Greenland and American Samoa.

Mass shootings, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, occur when four or more people are shot or killed in the same incident at roughly the same time in the same place.

(We’ve so many murders, we have to create separate categories. There’s mass killings, spree killings defined as multiple victims in a short time span but not in the same place at the same time, serial killings with multiple victims over an extended period of time in multiple locations, and just plain murder.)

Already this year we’ve had 470 mass shootings incidents with 482 deaths and more than 1,100 injured. While not unique to the United States, mass shootings have become something the rest of the world identifies as an American event.

But we should take heart because, in reality, violent crime has been on a steady decline here since about 1980. We are, in fact, considerably less violent and murderous than we were just four or five decades ago.

of reporting that isn’t truly reflected by reality. Chicago does have an issue. The most recent weekend before this column was written saw 43 people shot with six fatalities in dozens of incidents. Almost every weekend is reported as a horror story of out of control violence. In truth, it used to be much, much worse.

The city of big shoulders had 774 murders in 2020 and has recorded more than 530 homicides already this year. But in the 28 years from 1970-1998, the city had only four years with less than 1,000 homicides, and violent crime in all categories was 25 percent higher than today. On a per capita basis, Chicago is only the 28th most murderous city in the U.S. Charlotte, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Cleveland -- to name a few -all have higher homicide rates. (Detroit has the 4th highest homicide rate and St. Louis the highest.)

In fact, though we’ve ample room for improvement, we are not awash in violence, mayhem and murder. The pandemic, despite fear-mongering politicians, the headlinegrabbing media and click-baiting web sites, the various mandates that accompanied the pandemic have not turned us into violent criminals. And despite some early, dramatic suggestions to the contrary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports no statistically significant increase in suicides, either.

It turns out we are not such delicate and feeble beings that we are unable to adapt to the risks and restrictions associated with the pandemic. The vast majority of us have been adaptable though some have been complaining incessantly.

The pandemic has not increased most crime and we should not allow ourselves to be talked into the notion it has. COVID is nasty business from which we should protect ourselves and each other, but it’s the disease that’s dangerous; it has not turned us into anything we were not before it started.

MORTGAGE RATES LOW, BUT WILL THAT LAST? Northern Express looks to local lenders

By Ross Boissoneau As anyone who has had even a passing interest in the housing industry has noticed for the past two years real estate sales have been on a tear.

Between remote working, the area’s appeal, and the dearth of homes for sale, it has been a seller’s market.

One key to a strong home market has always been the availability and cost of the money to buy homes. For the past several years, historically low interest rates have helped drive the market. Despite the proliferation of cash buyers, the cost of mortgages and the health and integrity of the mortgage industry remain vitally important to the market.

So where do things stand, and where will they go? We tapped several local lenders for their insights.

First, let’s address the northwest lower Michigan’s housing industry, which continues to be defined by high demand and low supply, even in areas far from bustling downtowns or Lake Michigan’s shores.

“There’s lots of activity,” said Camille Kenyon, vice president of mortgage lending and Gaylord market manager at State Savings Bank in Gaylord. Kenyon boasts 22 years in the industry, having worked in all facets of it, including closing, processing, underwriting, and origination.

State Savings Bank has operations in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Otsego counties.

Kenyon says location doesn’t seem to matter, as activity remains strong everywhere.

“Interest rates are low, and there’s lots of construction and refinancing” along with home purchasing, she says.

“We’re still in a very strong market, though things have slowed down some,” echoed Bill Holmes, vice president of northern Michigan sales for Front Street Mortgage in Traverse City. “The multiple, multiple offers are not as heavy. I think some

buyers, especially in the low to moderate range, have given up or stepped back.”

While inventory levels continue to lag, buyer interest remains extraordinarily high.

That’s resulted in escalating selling prices, which would typically also cause mortgage rates to increase.

Jason Stauffer, writing in the investment publication NextAdvisor, says it’s “surprising” that the level of activity hasn’t resulted in increasing mortgage rates.

Bill Holmes “Mortgage rates trended down in the past two months – surprisingly – given the inflationary pressures,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors, in the article.

Marta Couturier, senior mortgage loan officer with the Traverse City branch of Independent Bank on Grandview Parkway, says rates have been relatively steady the past several months. She also says she emphasizes to clients that if they are comfortable with the rate and terms she provides them, they should go for it, but should not come back if they drop.

“Honestly, no one has a crystal ball.

I don’t ever want to promise something and not deliver,” said Couturier, a 13-year veteran of the industry. “If you’re happy with the rate I’m giving you today, lock it in.”

While many sellers naturally favor cash offers, funding remains available for those hoping to buy a home. That’s true as well for those without ready access to the large sums of money necessary to purchase a home these days.

A representative for USDA Rural Development, which offers programs with low interest rates and subsidies from the government, declined to speculate

Camille Kenyon

Marta Courturier

on where the market will go, saying “It’s inappropriate for us to offer speculation on future market conditions. However, we anticipate having plenty of funding for whatever conditions exist.”

While rates have gone up and down this year, they’ve remained within a half a percentage point. Next Advisor noted the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased from the beginning of the year through early spring, to a high of 3.18% in early April, according to Freddie Mac. Then they began decreasing again, dropping to 2.78% in late July.

Currently, they are edging upward, but remain at what professionals consider historically low levels.

Will they stay there?

Kenyon says she thinks things will remain relatively static in the short term.

“I don’t see a whole lot changing until the pandemic gets better,” she said.

Loan officer Jon Lyons of Mercantile Bank in Petoskey believes the pandemic is indeed the key, and how business reacts over the next few years will dictate the housing market as well.

“I think things will play out over the next

Jon Lyons

three to five years,” he said. “Will companies still allow remote work? What’s the work landscape going to look like? If people have to come back to the office, will they move back or change careers? That’s going to be the thing.”

Lyons says he believes the only way rates can go from these historic lows is up, though he’s quick to note he doesn’t think they will skyrocket.

“The rates are low, but that can change.

I don’t think anybody can really predict,” he said. “People thought that they’d go up in the third quarter, yet they’ve held steady. If I could predict I’d be on an island somewhere.”

Holmes too doesn’t see great changes coming, though he says he does anticipate interest rates inching up, a feeling echoed by Couturier.

One thing is seemingly certain: Demand for housing will continue to build.

“I do a lot of construction loans and have a lot right now. Lumber costs are down, and a lot of people are moving here,” said Couturier, pointing in particular to California, New York and Ohio as locations where buyers are coming from. “The market is great. There’s just no inventory.”

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 7

BIG PROBLEMS MIGHT REQUIRE BIGGER THINKING guest opinion

by Cathye Williams In recent years, my concerns for the Earth have led me to a better understanding of politics, public policy, and the legislative process. And while I’m by no means an expert, I feel that I’ve learned much from experts — most importantly, how to discern good information and strategies from those that are ineffective or harmful.

Many of the experts I rely on are women.

Around the world, women and girls are first and most deeply impacted by pollution and extreme weather disasters, the spread of disease, and the shortage of food and water.

Since they experience these multiple threats firsthand, their experiences and ideas must be included in the full spectrum of strategies we need to make a liveable planet for all.

Moreover, women have the communitybuilding and relational skills that it will take to build a worldwide team to meet these multithreat challenges. Women throw their minds and their hearts into solving problems. This makes them ready to take up challenges where we must, as A. Johnson and K. Wilkinson put it in the 2020 anthology, “All That We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, “insist upon action that’s necessary, rather than what’s expedient or practical.”

I have run into this barrier of “practicality” a couple of times recently and found it annoying and spirit-crushing. In both instances, I felt like I was getting a paternalistic pat on the head while the ideas I feel most passionate and confident about received a solid poo-pooing.

Not surprisingly, in both instances, the “poopoo-er” was a man. Even more frustrating, these men were also allies — environmental advocates whose voices are respected.

While bordering on “man-splaining,” their dismissiveness wasn’t, I believe, ego-driven or intentionally condescending. However, in both cases, a more open mind and attitude might have gone a long way and achieved better results for our common goal.

The first letdown came during a presentation by a journalist who has chronicled the climate crisis for decades. His evidence was riveting and made a compelling case for green technology and renewable energy. However, when the discussion turned to solutions, he dismissed my question about carbon pricing out of hand, stating that Congress would never pass a carbon tax, then went on to reference a news item in which an Exxon exec was recorded saying that a carbon tax would never happen.

Is anyone surprised that someone from the oil industry would dismiss a plan that would severely diminish their operations? And moreover, do we environmentalists want to be the ones giving credence to that message?

That day, the presenter had an opportunity to not only educate about the threats we face but also to advocate for multiple solutions to those threats. Instead, he threw aside the one strategy considered by experts to be our “best first step” to addressing the crises. In the process, he might have influenced his audience to discount it as well.

8 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

This disappointment was replicated during an

online exchange with a talented, knowledgeable writer and founder of a conservation nonprofit.

He, too, derided carbon pricing as a “pipe dream” and advised that we “keep our eye on the ball.”

His remarks might have been better suited to a frank one-on-one discussion. Instead, he shared his argument in the comments of a social media post where I was asking others to advocate for a price on carbon. It was like having a stink bomb of negativity lobbed into my community meeting. The irony is that this person actually supports carbon pricing. Sadly, putting his pessimism about it in that forum might have undermined my effort to motivate others to support it as well.

It’s hard to know how these dismissals have influenced the thought of the many who heard or read them. What I found most disheartening was that these men reduced the painstaking work of other peoples’ activism, strategic planning, and relation-building to starry-eyed optimism; a clear juxtaposed to their “pragmatism.”

In advocating for President Biden’s huge infrastructure proposal — and making it sound like it’s our only hope — they also presented choices that need not be made.

Can we work hard for a multi-billion dollar infrastructure bill and rejoice when it passes, even in a less than perfect form? Yes! And can we continue to push for other transformational policies that will not only mitigate and prevent the worst climate impacts but also lift millions out of poverty, reduce global conflict, and regenerate resources? Yes! And so much more.

Given a do-over, I would have shared a few “fun facts” with these gentlemen: Carbon pricing wasn’t even mentioned as a consideration for the budget bill at the beginning of August. But after Senators received over 54,000 calls in a three-week period, it now is.

Multiple news outlets have confirmed that carbon pricing will likely be part of a draft budget resolution coming out of the Senate Finance Committee.

The budget reconciliation process takes place over a few months, giving environmental advocates in the Senate more opportunities to build in actions and protections.

How much more might we achieve if not for the naysayers?

To change everything, we truly do need everyone. We can each pick our routes to get there and still cheer on those who choose other paths. Someday soon, the sausage will get made. Things will get chopped up, and no one will be completely happy, but we will be on our way to a clean, just, and more peaceful world.

Cathye Williams serves as a volunteer and media liaison for the Grand Traverse area chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby, www. citizensclimatelobby.com. She writes from Benzie County.

Thinking of selling or purchasing your home or lot?

Awesome!

It was 1928 when Virginia Oliver, age 8, started trapping lobsters, and she hasn’t stopped working the harvest yet. Oliver, now 101 years old, is a sternman on her 78-year-old son’s boat, which bears her name. In that role, she measures and bands lobsters, but Oliver, of Rockland, Maine, also loads traps with small fish to attract lobsters and gets up before dawn to head out to sea. The Associated Press reported that a couple of years ago, a crab nipped her finger and she had to have seven stitches. When the doctor asked Oliver why she was still lobstering, she snapped back, “Well, that’s ‘cause I want to do it.”

Oliver has no plans to retire. “I like being along the water. And so I’m going to keep on doing it just as long as I can.”

Weird Science Animal behavioral scientists at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, responding to the critical problem of livestock waste, have trained calves to urinate in a MooLoo -- a special pen with an AstroTurf surface, the Associated Press reported. Perhaps you didn’t know that urine mixed with feces makes ammonia, which is an issue for the environment, or that cows produce an impressive amount of urine in a day: about 8 gallons. About the potty-training endeavor, the study’s senior author, Lindsay Matthews, said, “The cows are at least as good as children, age 2 to 4 years, at least as quick.” Researchers lured the cows into the pen with a sweet treat and then rewarded them when they urinated.

If, after training, they went outside the MooLoo, they got a squirt of cold water.

Next up: No. 2.

Undignified Death Timothy Satterlee, 71, of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, was attacked on Aug. 30 by a 12-foot-long, 504-pound alligator during flooding following Hurricane Ida, the Daily Beast reported. His wife told police she was able to free him from the gator and pull him onto the front steps of their home, but while she went to get help, Satterlee disappeared. The parish sheriff ’s office said on Sept. 13 that it had captured the gator with “what appears to be human remains” in its stomach. The coroner’s office was confirming that the remains were Satterlee’s. “This is a horrible tragedy and my sincere condolences and sympathy goes to the Satterlee family,” Sheriff Randy Smith said.

Oh, Canada In the small town of Durham in Ontario, Canada, an unidentified driver sealed his fate on Sept. 15 when, at about 1:45 a.m., he began driving a red Cadillac in slow circles around the parking lot of the Durham Regional Police station, CTV News reported. An officer inside the building noticed the car and went outside, asking the driver to stop. “The driver did not comply and continued to drive slowly in and around the parked police vehicles while flashing his headlights,” police said. Finally, two cruisers boxed him in and stopped the car. The driver was arrested for driving while impaired.

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Least Competent Criminal A 17-year-old driver in Youngstown, Ohio, was pulled over by police after he ran a stop sign and drove at high speeds on Sept. 15, WKBN-TV reported. When police spoke to the nervous young man, they smelled what they thought was marijuana, and in the car they found a device that is used to load ammunition into a semiautomatic firearm. They also noticed that his belt was unbuckled. The teenager explained to police that the device belonged to his sister, and regarding his belt, he said, “I ain’t gonna lie, I was trying to take a s--t.” But police also searched the area where he had been driving and found a 9mm handgun in a yard. Finally, the suspect admitted that the gun was his and, presumably, he had been trying to hide it in his waistband. He was charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Irony Philip Morris International, maker of Marlboro and Parliament cigarettes, has sealed a deal with Vectura, a U.K.-based company that makes medicines -- including inhalers for respiratory conditions -- with a $1.1 billion bid. The BBC reported on Sept.

16 that PMI’s CEO, Jacek Olczak, is “excited” to expand the company’s product lines, but medical organizations and charities are less than thrilled about the purchase. “It creates perverse incentives for PMI to sell more of its harmful products so they might then profit again through treating smokingrelated diseases,” said Sarah Woolnough, CEO of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation. The agreement is set to be final on Sept. 30.

Fine Points of the Law On Sept. 13, a road rage incident in Amarillo, Texas, all started when Car No. 1 tried to pass Car Nos. 2 and 3. No. 1 got past the first car, but No. 3 sped up to prevent the pass. As Car No. 1 passed No. 3, someone in No. 1 fired shots into No. 3. “The victim in this case did have a handgun in their vehicle and returned fire at the suspect,” Amarillo police Cpl. Jeb Hilton told KVIITV. And here’s where Texas’ tricky law comes in: While it is against Texas law to shoot a firearm from a moving or stationary vehicle on a roadway, if you’re shooting in self-defense, you’re off the hook. The person in Car No. 3 will not face any charges. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

Ewwwww!

Shirley Wright-Johnson was shopping for pizza rolls in an Oklahoma City Crest Foods store on Sept. 12 when she literally put her hand in it: As she reached into the frozen case to pick up the rolls, “I grabbed the bag, I felt something smushy on the bag, so I turned it over and there it was,” WrightJohnson told KFOR-TV. “It” was human feces. “I was so disgusted I was almost in tears,” she said. Moore, Oklahoma, police investigated, checking store video cameras, where they saw a man in “the cooler section, where he proceeded to defecate inside one of the coolers before leaving the business,” said Lt. Kyle Johnson. The suspect was apprehended and booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center on unrelated charges, police said.

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Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 9

The Next Hot Spot Up North: East Jordan Part 1 in our quarterly Small Towns on the Rise Series

By Ross Boissoneau Paths, trails, a bridge, high-speed internet, a revitalized downtown: What might sound like a few dry infrastructure projects is actually a part of a substantial series of thoughtful investments positioning East Jordan, a town of about 2,300 in Charlevoix County, to become the next hot spot Up North for visitors, residents, small businesses, and investors.

“The energy and momentum right now — it’s fantastic,” says Mary Faculak, a business owner and CEO/president of the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce.

“New businesses, new owners — there’s been a lot of ribbon-cutting.”

Of course, Faculak has a vested interest in the once-sleepy town at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. She’s both the head of the chamber and a business owner in East Jordan. But it’s the latter role that might provide the best measure of her confidence.

She owns the East Jordan Shop, as well as Mary’s of Boyne City.

Faculak has watched Boyne City — similarly positioned as East Jordan, albeit at the end of the east arm of Lake Charlevoix — to grow and expand over the years. She says she anticipates the same happening in East Jordan as more retail and restaurants and recreational opportunities have developed and more people are discovering the “other” town just 15 minutes southwest of Boyne City.

There are concrete reasons for Faculak’s optimism for East Jordan, and they go far beyond geographical positioning and lakeshore access. Among the town’s highlights — perhaps the biggest highlight — is the September opening of the Joining Jordan Project, a pedestrian bridge spanning across the Jordan River that has expanded accessibility to East Jordan’s natural assets for both residents and visitors.

BRIDGING THE GAP East Jordan City Administrator Tom Cannon says the pedestrian bridge was

seen as the first and most necessary step to revitalizing East Jordan.

“We were behind where we wanted to be.

We began a master plan … and planned for expansion,” he says.

Those expansion plans included some not-so-sexy-but-necessary elements, like a new wastewater plant and a new water tower (replacing the original one from 1909) — but the biggie was connecting the two parts of the city.

While there has long been a bridge across the Jordan River, it was not pedestrianfriendly, and the result was that people would get in their cars and drive from one side of town to another. Or not. Either way, the limits of its usefulness divided the city into two parts, militating against casual strolling or shopping throughout the downtown.

The new pedestrian-friendly bridge, though seemingly a small change, made a big impact on the community. It connected two parks, created a boardwalk on formerly blighted property, and prompted the creation of a new boat launch.

“The river and lake are beautiful but [they were] an obstacle. You could throw a softball across, but it was not bike or walkfriendly,” Cannon says.

Enabling people who drive into town to park on one side and simply walk to the other has not only created much more foot traffic — a helpful factor for the community’s existing businesses and, in time, an enticing one for prospective ones — but also a significantly more community-like vibe and sense of place in the downtown.

Improved access to and more recreational and cultural opportunities have been key to increasing East Jordan’s tourist draw and boosting the quality of life for residents.

“Being on the water is obviously a major deal,” says Tom Teske, chair of the Downtown Development Association. But the town looked beyond the beauty of the water to capitalize on its surrounding forests and rolling hills.

Just last month, East Jordan officially

10 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

opened Brown’s Creek Pathway trail, a fivemile mountain bike trail located on Elm Street near the East Jordan Middle/High School. It is situated on 20 acres of properties that are owned by the City of East Jordan and East Jordan Public Schools.

For walkers, there is a substantial cultural addition: The state provided a grant that led to an art walk with seven sculptures on the connection between Memorial Park and Sportsman Park. Teske says the project provides another lure for those who want to slow down and take in all the town offers.

BUT WHAT ABOUT JOBS? Teske is vice president and general manager of EJ Group, formerly East Jordan Iron Works, the construction castings company that has served as the backbone of the town (and the nation and now world’s)

construction castings needs like manhole frame and covers, tree grates, fire hydrants, and more since its founding in 1883.

The company announced plans to relocate to a new facility just outside of town at about the same time as the city’s master planning process began. Rather than look for a more affordable place elsewhere in the country or outside it, EJ — which owns and operates three other foundries in Oklahoma, Ireland and France and supplies products to infrastructure projects on six continents — moved to a new location in East Jordan, just 14 miles away from its prior location, retaining every one of its 350 local workers and hiring more.

“EJ’s commitment to East Jordan was a trigger [for the city to invest in improvements], but there were a number of factors,” Teske said.

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The other part of the equation has been private parties investing in the city.

The old marina has been redeveloped into an entertainment center. Another nearby building was revamped, leading to a new coffee shop, wine bar and restaurant. Once the downtown area began morphing, the entire atmosphere began to change, and residential real estate followed suit.

“There was a lot of rehab of old homes and buildings,” says Cannon.

REHAB, ATTRACT, RETAIN, REPEAT Among those who chose to move back to his hometown was Rick Gotts.

“Mom was a special ed teacher at the public school, Dad was in purchasing at EJ,” he said. “When I graduated, I moved to Charleston. It was great, [but] when we had a child, we decided a small town was really nice.”

Even nicer was a small town that wasn’t yet a hot spot but was developing into one. The Gotts purchased the old marina and looked at ways to refurbish it. They considered opening a restaurant or brewpub in the space, turning it into a facility to restore wood boats, or making it an event space.

They settled on no. 3, and today the Boathouse on Lake Charlevoix is an enticing venue for weddings, receptions and the like.

Another hometown investor was Clif Porter, though in his case, it was his wife, Suzi, who longed to return to her home.

Their investment group, Cannonball LLC, purchased four buildings downtown to renovate. The result thus far is Iron Goat coffeeshop; the wine and cider tasting room Cellar 1914; and a restaurant (a nod to East Jordan Iron Works), the Foundry; plus office space.

Porter says the growth and appeal of northern Michigan in general and other nearby lakefront locales such as Charlevoix and Boyne City, puts East Jordan on the cusp of some very promising economic growth.

“We envision East Jordan as the next place, so we invested in a few dilapidated buildings,” he says.

The Porters aren’t done yet. They’ve purchased three other properties, two of which were vacant and one so derelict it had

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to be razed. Porter says he and Suzi are still in the planning stages for the properties’ possibilities.

One consideration for all is to create something that helps satisfy the area’s need for both short- and long-term housing.

The Gotts recognize that need as well; they have purchased and refurbished buildings across from their event center, which serve as rentals for those utilizing his property, as well as for visitors who don’t.

Teske says housing is a dilemma for all of northern Michigan. He says he recognizes that those who eventually move to the region come here first as vacationers, and though drawing tourists and new residents is a goal, “(w)e can’t just be a glorified AirBNB,” he said.

“The whole region, not just East Jordan has … to attract families and new people.”

Cannon admits there is still more to do, but he believes East Jordan is well positioned for the future. He says the fact residents and local business owners are investing in East Jordan demonstrates its vitality and viability.

“It’s a slow process,” he says, “but it shows people believe in it.”

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 11

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOOM

Zach Endres and Taylor Peterson are in tough spots. As you read the headlines almost daily about booming Traverse City home sales and housing shortages, Endres and Peterson are living the reality, in the thick of the housing hunt. And to hear their tales of the past 12-18 months, you hear of lengthy waitlists at local apartment complexes, homes selling considerably above asking price, and competition from vacation rentals for scarce openings -- all leading to a lot of frustration.

Zach Endres has been looking to buy a home in Traverse City for the better part of a year. At 27, he grew up in the area and has long had dreams of settling down here for good. In some ways, that plan is coming along nicely: Endres recently started a new job at Cherryland Electric, is the vice chair of the East Bay Township Parks Commission, and has a decent amount of money saved for the down payment on his first house. But because Endres started looking for a house at roughly the same time that the local market hit its 2020 surge, he’s learned that finding a starter home that fits within his price range might just be a pipe dream.

“There are very few homes in the Grand Traverse region that are even in my [mortgage] pre-approval,” Endres says; he’s pre-approved for a loan of $175,000. “And my realtor wouldn’t even show me a home unless it was $140,000 or less, because the homes were almost guaranteed to go for $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 above asking price. So that’s hard for someone like me, as a first-time homebuyer. I feel like I’ve done pretty well for myself so far, but being a first-time buyer, I can’t afford to go buy that $250,000 home. And because the market is so inflated, the opportunities just aren’t there [for lower-priced homes].”

So far, Endres has put in one offer, on a “fixer-upper” that was listed for $140,000.

Endres offered asking price; another buyer offered $175,000.

“That’s what I was pre-approved for, so I could have matched that $175,000,” Endres says. “But that doesn’t leave me with any extra money to put into the home to make it livable.

And that home needed a new roof, new doors, and new flooring. It was all engineered vinyl flooring and it was peeling up. [That house] needed at least $20,000 and some loving. And when you max out what you can afford, you can’t afford to put anything into it.”

Endres is willing to take on the “fixing up” part; he describes himself as “pretty handy” and says he likes doing that kind of work. So far, though, even the fixer-uppers are ending up outside of his price range, thanks to bidding war market dynamics.

12 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

Things aren’t any easier for locals seeking out places to rent. Take Taylor Peterson, a local twentysomething hairstylist who rents a chair at O’Hair Hair Styling & Tanning in downtown Traverse City. Peterson has spent the past several months bouncing around from one housing situation to the next, looking for something more permanent but coming up against one hurdle after another.

Peterson had lived the better part of three years in a house near the airport with several other renters. When she found a new place, she informed her landlord she’d be moving out and he promptly found a new tenant. But Peterson’s new housing situation fell through before she could even vacate her room. Left without a backup plan, she moved into an office space a friend was renting above a local business. That proved to be another

“We’re really scrambling to find a place to live.

We had to bounce from Airbnb to Airbnb for three weeks. Now we’re living at another house, but it’s under construction, so it’s not really ideal. And I’ve been on a waiting list at Bay Hill Apartments for five or six months now.” temporary measure: The landlord found out, cited a rule about not using commercial buildings for residential purposes, and gave her three days to vacate.

Since then, Peterson – joined by a friend who recently separated from her fiancé – has been trying and failing to find steady, stable housing in Traverse City. For the better part of a month, the only housing they could find came in the form of expensive vacation rentals.

“We’re really scrambling to find a place to live,” Peterson tells The Ticker. “We had to bounce from Airbnb to Airbnb for three weeks. Now, we’re living at another house, but it’s under construction, so it’s not really ideal.

And I’ve been on a waiting list at Bay Hill Apartments for five or six months now. When I applied, they told me it was only a two-month wait, and here we are six months later.”

Another hurdle for prospective tenants like Peterson is that some local apartment

complexes don’t allow pets or have restrictions on the types or sizes of pets allowed. For animal lovers – Peterson has a German shepherd – those restrictions can take an already short list of local housing options and narrow it further.

“I’ve called every possible apartment complex in Traverse City,” she says. “And the big thing is, even if you do find one, they don’t allow dogs. And if they do allow dogs, it’s only a 25-pound limit; I have a 100-pound German Shepherd. And he’s a great dog: He’s very well behaved, he’s had good training.

But you can’t tell that to someone and have them believe you.”

For now, Peterson is just hoping one of her waitlist spots will open up and she’ll be able to claim a local apartment. In the meantime, she’s paying $500 a month to live in an under-construction house – a rate that will go up to $750 when the construction is done in November. On top of car payments and the $640 she spends to rent her chair downtown each month, she says “it just all adds up.” Even if she gets an apartment, she’ll have to decide whether she can afford to take it.

“A one-bedroom in Traverse City is $1,200 a month, or more,” she says. “I don’t think anyone in this town can really afford that. I know a lot of people who can’t afford it. So then they’re moving out to Buckley or Kingsley, but that’s still a drive. And I work right downtown.

I don’t want to be that far out of town.”

So, what’s next for these two young professionals? For Endres, the strategy is simple: Save as much as possible with hopes of scoring a higher mortgage pre-approval. A bigger loan maximum, he hopes, will bump him into a more realistic price bracket for Traverse City real estate.

For Peterson, though, the calculus of finding and affording housing in Traverse City is pushing her to consider the one thing that local economic development organizations like Traverse Connect don’t want young professionals to do: leave northern Michigan for good.

“I’ve definitely thought about moving outof-state, because it’s cheaper than Traverse,” Peterson says. “Down in Florida, you can find a one or two-bedroom apartment that’s a lot nicer than anything in Traverse City for a lot cheaper. I’ve been up here nine years, I moved up from Illinois, and I would absolutely love to stay. But it’s just extremely expensive. And every time they say they’re going to build affordable housing [here], they don’t. They think it’s affordable, but it’s really not affordable.”

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Traverse City Ticker.

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Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 13

h t ls i w a t e n m e o d i H c t A Ac e h T Days before dropping their latest album and launching their tour, the North’s hottest musical trio will play two shows where it all began

By Craig Manning In music theory, an “accidental” is a music note that is foreign to the given scale or key in which a piece of music is written. By raising or lowering a musical pitch outside of the normal melodic pattern of a scale or key, an accidental can create unexpected deviations or striking tensions within a musical composition. You might think of accidentals as little bits of seemingly random beauty floating out there in your favorite songs, making everything a little more interesting.

For a variety of reasons, then, The Accidentals is an apt name for Traverse City’s most beloved indie-folk trio.

HAPPY ACCIDENTS Take the band’s origin story: 10 years ago, two of the three members of The Accidentals, Sav Buist and Katie Larson, met because they both happened to be members of the Traverse City West Senior High orchestra program.

Buist was a concertmaster — another term for the first-chair violinist in an orchestra. Larson was a cellist. They teamed up for a class project, which in turn led to a fast friendship.

The thought of pursuing music professionally came later, when Michiganbased world music duo The Moxie Strings visited Traverse City West for an educational clinic. The women in The Moxie Strings — Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn — both have music degrees and perform on five-string violin and electric cello, respectively. Buist has gone on record saying that, without that clinic, she and Larson probably never would have come together as a band or pursued professional music careers.

“We didn’t see many other girls playing popular music on violin and cello in sustainable careers,” Buist has said in the past.

“We didn’t even know that career path existed until those two women walked through the door.”

That clinic, ultimately, led both Buist and Larson to audition for spots in the thenbrand-new singer-songwriter program at Interlochen Center for the Arts. It was at Interlochen that The Accidentals officially came to be.

Grounded in classical music and brought together by chance. Those factors together made The Accidentals the perfect name for Buist and Larson’s band back then.

It’s still the perfect name now.

You might call it an accident, for

14 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

instance, that Buist and Larson happened to meet drummer/percussionist Michael Dause at the Blissfest music festival in 2013 — the encounter that ultimately resulted in the duo becoming a trio.

You might also call it an accident that The Accidentals are about to release their most assured and unique album yet — a product of the forced solitude and independence under which the music was recorded.

Accidents; chance; little random bits of beauty. These were and continue to be the ingredients that define The Accidentals.

AFTER SOME TIME OUT Like so many other bands and musicians, The Accidentals had their plans knocked sideways by COVID-19.

The last time the group played a concert in northern Michigan was an “album preview show” in Leland in February 2020.

According to Buist, the big goal of that show was to premiere a bunch of new songs, gauge crowd reactions, and use those opinions on the new material to decide which songs would make the tracklist of the band’s thenuntitled fourth album.

“We even printed out ballots for the audience and everyone voted on what their favorite songs were,” Buist laughed.

As the band tells the story, those ballots did in fact inform the decisions that shaped the 14-song tracklist of their new album, called Vessel and out Oct. 1.

Most of the other plans the band had in mind for actually making the album, though, crumbled due to COVID-19.

“We recorded some of the album with two of our dream producers: John Congleton and Tucker Martine,” Buist said. “And the plan was originally to go record the rest of the album with Tucker in Portland, Oregon.

But then COVID happened. So, we had to make the decision: Were we going to wait until the pandemic passed? Or, were we just going to get to work?”

The band opted to get to work. Only now, instead of recording in a professional music studio with a seasoned record producer, they were laying down tracks in a makeshift studio in the attic of their shared Traverse City home, with blankets and unsold CD boxes serving as partitions and soundproofing material.

One big upside to recording at home instead of in a West Coast studio? The cost of studio time wasn’t a factor, which meant The Accidentals could take their time. And they had a lot of it: As a band that built its following largely on the back of constant

touring — Larson says the group would typically play 250 shows per year prior to COVID — The Accidentals suddenly had a near-infinite number of hours to spend on new music.

All that time not only meant more music (Vessel comes hot on the tails of TIME OUT, an EP recorded in the same sessions and released in May), but also more fleshed-out music. Vessel is packed with the biggest, boldest, lushest music The Accidentals have ever made, stacked with tracks of violin, cello, guitar, bass, viola, mandolin, banjo, and more — all of which Buist and Larson played — plus vocals and Dause’s foundation of drums and percussion. Buist and Larson also took on co-producer roles, while Dause handled much of the mixing.

“We’ve had a busy year,” Buist says. “But we’re really excited about this music. It’s independent and it’s very representative of what we do, I think.”

That return to independence comes after a stint with Sony Masterworks — the classical music label of Sony Music Entertainment — for the band’s 2017 LP, Odyssey.

P(L)AYING IT FORWARD 2020’s sparse calendar also gave The Accidentals time to focus on another major project: launching their own nonprofit organization.

For years, the band has been paying forward the gift that The Moxie Strings gave them years ago by doing workshops at schools all over the country.

That educational piece — and the idea of giving talented kids the push they need to chase their dreams in the world of music — is a huge point of passion for the group.

“Sometimes you write songs with a class,” Larson said of the workshops. “Sometimes, [the format] can be ‘alternative strings,’ where we show students that just because you play a classical instrument doesn’t mean you need to play classical music. Or we can talk about the music business, and how you can take your music anywhere, but also become a tour manager for a living, or be a sound engineer for a living. So [our educational piece] really is all across the board. And we even learned how to do it virtually, so now we’re ready for anything.”

In the course of visiting schools for those workshops, Buist says the band members began to see how fortunate they’d been to go to schools with terrific music programs.

Buist and Larson, as noted above, were shaped by their experiences at Traverse City West and later at Interlochen. Dause, meanwhile, says he was also the product of a robust high school music program, participating in “four different choirs, and marching band, and jazz band, and theater.”

“It’s a pretty interesting thing to reconcile as a privilege that you just grow up with, and don’t realize it’s something that doesn’t exist everywhere,” Buist said. “It was kind of a shock for us when we would go to different schools around the nation because it’s about 50/50, honestly. There are some places that just have these incredible, thriving music programs and everybody’s really into it. And then there’s some schools that are cutting back [on music] because there’s not as much enthusiasm, or kids are just tired of trying to chase after that dream. It feels like they don’t really recognize music as a feasible occupation they can do later on in life. So that’s something that we try to encourage, by saying, ‘Hey, this is how you can take your unsuspecting orchestral instrument and make a living off of it; this is how you can navigate the world doing something you love.’”

She says being in orchestra with a passionate teacher inspired their new nonprofit.

“We were really lucky to have had an

A Conversation with Sawyer Fredericks

orchestra program and an orchestra teacher who was incredibly passionate about making sure that music got into the hands of people who needed it to express themselves — to shine through their introversion and be able to speak in a way that’s honest,” she said. “So we started a nonprofit to try to continue that, and it’s called Play It Forward Again and Again.”

Larson adds that she, Buist, and Dause are just in the process of launching the organization – whose name is a play on an Accidentals song from 2016, called “Michigan Again and Again.”

“The nonprofit is set up to get instruments to students, but also to pair them with local mentorship,” Larson said. “So, it’s not just about throwing an instrument in someone’s hands, but also being able to follow up with a local musician who can check in on [the student], and answer questions, and keep them motivated.”

ON THE ROAD AGAIN After more than a year of recording, prepping an album, teaching school workshops, and building the framework of a new nonprofit, The Accidentals are ready to do the one thing they haven’t been able to do much of since March 2020: Play music in front of live, in-person audiences.

This Wednesday and Thursday, Sept.

29 and 30, the band will play a pair of hometown shows at the City Opera House in Traverse City. Buist tells Northern Express that the band is planning to pull out all the stops — from lighting design, to props, to a fourth onstage member who can help flesh out the songs to match the big sound of Vessel’s pandemic-recorded songs.

Those two shows will kick off a new tour that, if all goes well, will keep The Accidentals busy until November. Just in case it doesn’t, though, Buist, Larson, and Dause agree that they’re planning to cherish every single moment they have onstage together.

“We’ve kind of learned that nothing’s a guarantee,” Larson says. “We are seeing other artists who sadly are having to cancel or postpone dates. We’ve really cracked down [with COVID precautions], and we feel safer knowing that we’re asking everyone to wear a mask, and that a lot of venues are following through with vaccination requirements or negative test results. So, we feel very hopeful.

But at the same time, we’re not going to take a single show for granted, because there’s no way to predict what will come next.”

Tickets to next week’s City Opera House shows are available at cityoperahouse.org.

When The Accidentals return home for their two-night stand at the City Opera House — and throughout the duration of their fall 2021 tour — they’ll be accompanied by blues-folk singer Sawyer Fredericks as their co-headliner.

If Fredericks looks or sounds familiar, that’s because you’ve probably seen him on TV. In 2015, he became both the youngest and most-buzzed-about contestant ever to win The Voice, setting iTunes sales records for the TV show en route to a season 8 crown.

Six years later, at the age of just 22, Fredericks is trying to build a new legacy for himself that exists separate from the reality show that made him a star. Though Fredericks, like all other Voice victors, won himself a recording contract with Republic Records at the show’s conclusion, he’s actually been an independent artist since January 2017.

But making music independently and being seen as an independent artist, he tells Northern Express, aren’t quite the same thing.

“That’s definitely been a huge struggle,” Fredericks said of building a strong fanbase to call his own —versus a casual fanbase of Voice viewers who don’t necessarily follow artists after their time on the show. “Especially because of the genre that I’m in, since I’m more folk [than pop].”

Reality TV show victors have often struggled to build strong, loyal fanbases, in part because many listeners question how “real” or “honest” they are in their art.

Fredericks is trying to take apart that barrier brick by brick. One strategy he’s taken is letting the music speak for itself. His most recent album — last year’s Flowers for You — sounds more like Jack White than it does something you’d hear on pop radio.

Another strategy has been surrounding himself with a community of like-minded musicians — many of whom, interestingly, hail from right here in northern Michigan.

In addition to his tour with The Accidentals, Fredericks collaborated with the band on numerous tracks for Flowers for You. He also performed a song by Traverse City’s May Erlewine live on national television during his stint on The Voice (“Shine On,” during Top 6 week), and competed against Traverse Citian Joshua Davis for the Voice title. In 2019, Fredericks joined all three of those artists in Lake Leelanau for an in-the-round singersongwriter session, hosted by The Accidentals at Fountain Point Resort.

“My strategy has just been getting people to hear my voice,” Fredericks says. “Because when they hear my writing style and my voice, they understand that I’m not just someone that’s coming from these reality TV shows.”

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 15

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Sweet’s Bar & Grill Longtime Honor watering hole gets a Sweet re-do

By Al Parker With many restaurants closing their doors for good because of the twin disasters of a global pandemic combined with the difficulty of finding staffers, it takes a pretty confident owner to launch a new eatery.

Meet Bill Sweet, an outgoing guy who — along with his wife and partner in entrepreneurial optimism, Toni — opened Sweet’s Bar & Grill in Honor this summer.

The spot? Inside the former Sleepy Bear Lounge, formerly Lumberjack Tavern, on Main Street.

“We opened July 12,” he says. “That was after months of refurbishing and changes to make the place lighter, fresher, and more welcoming. We did it ourselves, and it was a lot of hard work — a lot of 8am to midnight. Our goal was to make this place as welcoming as we can,” he says.

Consider the Sweets’ mission and vision accomplished.

“Folks who visited here before were surprised,” he says. “They said ‘Oh, it’s so bright, and it smells so good.’”

PLUS ONE Bill Sweet, who was born and raised in Empire and attended Glen Lake Schools, went into the U.S. Air Force after graduation.

As a C-130 loadmaster, he served at air bases around the nation and the world. After 9/11, he joined Homeland Security and again was sent overseas, eventually visiting 61 countries between his two careers. Toni Sweet, originally from Saginaw, came to Traverse City to attend Northwestern Michigan College, where she received her nursing degree in 1991 and began working as an RN. In 2013, Bill Sweet retired and returned to northern Michigan. Rather than kick back, the two immediately got to work on the next phase of their lives. That year, they opened Cobblestone Farms, a wedding venue in Kingsley that features a 1914-built foursquare farmhouse with an enormous back deck, barn, and plenty of pictureperfect pastoral views. Some simple math inspired the Sweets to add another business to their local roster.

“We had been selling drinks and the wedding venue,” says the 50-year-old veteran. “And I thought, instead of just selling them one day a week, what about selling them seven days a week?”

So Sweet began looking for a bar/ restaurant to buy and found the Sleepy Bear.

“It’s a natural fit for me,” says the selfdescribed ‘unpaid dishwasher’ who admits to having absolutely no experience at all in the restaurant business. “We’re offering great service, great food, and reasonable prices.

I love talking to people, and I want this to become a “Cheers” kind of place where everybody knows your name.”

HOMAGE & HONOR A couple of remnants of the Sleepy Bear still remain. Norm Gibner’s collection of some 40 hand-signed drum cymbals remains as reminders of the live bands that played there. Also a stained glass Sleepy Bear sign brightly illuminates the room.

But the Sweets are clearly making it their own. The eatery’s walls — classic tongue and groove pine — feature one specially decorated Veteran’s Wall to honor those who have served and showcase U.S. Flag artwork.

“I plan to red-white-and blue this place up,” says Sweet.

An assortment of old license plates adds a quirky vibe to the bar area, and Sweet is working on adding a local touch to the decor with a growing display of local high school football helmets. To keep the place lively and attract locals and hunters, anglers, and tourists even as the cold temperatures set in, Sweet is planning on offering a lot of nightly lures: euchre, trivia, pool leagues, karaoke, live music, and more. “We’ll have country, polka bands, rock — whatever people like,” he says.

ON THE MENU As for the food, expect what Sweet calls “upscale bar fare”: sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pizzas, nachos, burritos, and quesadillas.

But drill down a little into the menu, and you’ll find one of the tastiest Reuben Sandwiches ($10) in the region. It features a

hefty pile of tender corned beef on swirled rye. Next comes a crown of mild but flavorful sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and an ample topping of Thousand Island dressing.

One of the most popular handhelds is theFrench Dip ($12): stacked beef topped with grilled mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese on a hoagie bun, with a flavorful side of au jus for dipping.

The best seller on the menu, according to manager Jen Plamondon, is the new and improved Wet Burrito ($12). It’s built with seasoned ground beef or chicken, refried beans, red enchilada sauce, romaine lettuce, tomato, red onion, and black olives. It comes with a side of rice and nacho chips.

“When we first opened, we heard that sometimes when diners got to the bottom of the wet burrito, it was kind of dry,” says Sweet. “So we changed the recipe slightly, adding a layer of sauce on the bottom of the tortilla before we stack the other ingredients.

Problem solved, and it’s one of our best offerings now.”

Other Mexican fare includes Nachos Supreme, a Quesadilla, and a Veggie Quesadilla, each priced at $12.

In the familial fashion that has come todefine the Sweets’ way of doing business with customers and employees alike, each of Sweet’s eight different burgers is named after one of the grill’s friendly staffers, such as “Jen’s Olive Delight” or “John’s Hot As We Can Make It.” Despite their differences in toppings, every burger starts with a 1/3 pound of hand-patted beef that’s cooked medium-well unless (otherwise requested) and delivered with lettuce tomato, onion, and a pickle on a brioche bun.

“Ann’s Steakhouse Burger is big, but if you’re really hungry, it’s a great burger,” says Sweet. The patty is topped with bacon, a slab of cheddar, and onion rings, then bathed in BBQ sauce and Montreal steak seasoning.

Lighter appetites might be tempted by one of five salads, including a Michigan Summer Delight, featuring spring mix lettuce, cucumber, carrot, red onion, sliced apples, dried strawberries, dried cherries, pecans, and feta cheese($15).

There’s always a Soup of the Day ($4 a

cup,$6 a bowl) and tasty Chili ($5 a cup, $7 a bowl), served with a cornbread muffin.

If you’re just looking for something to nibble on while you enjoy a beverage, the appetizers include Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Deep Fried Pickle Chips, Mozzarella Sticks, a Fry Basket, a Garlic Parmesan Fry Basket, and Chili Cheese Fries. But the most popular app might be the Steak Bites, a pile of succulent beef nuggets sauteed in a homemade sauce and served with a side of Ranch dressing.

Since it’s a family friendly place, there’s a youngsters menu (10 and under $7 ) that features the picky-mouth approved standards: burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, and chicken strips. Each dish includes fries, pop or juice, apple slices, and goldfish crackers.

Sweet is quick to praise his staff of 15, especially Plamondon, for their early success. “We couldn’t have done any of it without our friends and family,” he says.

“We have one cook from the old restaurant and the others are all friends of ours. I really didn’t know how awesome they would be.”

Find Sweet’s Bar & Grill at 10919 Main St. in Honor. It’s open 11am to midnight Monday-Thursday, 11 am to 2am Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 8pm Sundays.

For more information or takeout orders, call (231) 227-1148.

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 17

sept saturday 25

RED WINGS TRAINING CAMP: Centre ICE Arena, TC, Sept. 23-28. Red Wings players, prospects & tryouts will be divided into teams that will practice & scrimmage throughout camp, including the annual Red and White Game on Sun., Sept. 26. Following the Red and White game, the team will remain in TC & hold practices on Mon., Sept.

27 & Tues., Sept. 28 prior to breaking camp for Detroit to begin their preseason schedule. centreice.org/pressrelease

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BOYNE CITY HARVEST FESTIVAL: 8am-4pm, Downtown Boyne City, Water & Lake streets. Featuring music, crafts, children’s activities, food & fall produce, a scarecrow contest & more. boynecitymainstreet.com/main-street-events

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NAMIWALKS TRAVERSE CITY: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Health, is holding a walk at The GT Commons (700 Cottageview Dr.), TC. Donate, sign up for a team & join for the walk. Registration begins at 8am & walk begins at 10am. Details at namigt.org. For questions please call 944.8448 or info@namigt.org.

NAMIWalks.org/traversecity

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BEAR CLAW EPIC MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE: 8:30am, Cadillac Pathway. The course is 7 miles per lap. Beginner: 1 lap. Intermediate: 2 laps.

Sport/Expert: 3 laps. Elite: 4 laps. There will also be the Bear Cub Epic for racers ages 6-14. This is a 1.2 mile loop. All proceeds from the race will go towards funding the construction of 11 new miles of single track on the Cadillac Pathway. $50; 18 & under categories: $25. bearclawepic.com

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FREE WORKSHOP: EXPLORING SCIENCE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: 9am3:30pm, Platte River Campground Picnic Area, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Formal & non-formal educators who work with students in upper elementary through high school are invited to enjoy a day of exploration & handson activities at this free educators’ workshop.

Registration required. Email: wendy_w_smith@ nps.gov or call: 219-707-0055 by Fri., Sept. 17.

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FRIENDS OF TADL FALL BOOK SALE: 9am5pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Books, CDs & DVDs. Adult & children’s books, $1 each OR fill a grocery bag for $10. Adult CDs: 10 for $5; children’s CDs: 5 for $3; DVDs: 12 for $10. tadl.org/friends

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HARBOR SPRINGS FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK: Sept. 24-25. A celebration of readers, writers, books, & the literary craft. Featuring nationally-published authors & illustrators across eight genres, the majority of Festival sessions are held in venues in downtown Harbor Springs & are free to the public. Must register in advance. For a schedule, visit hsfotb.org.

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TVC5K - RUN THE RUNWAY: 9am, Cherry Capital Airport, TC. Benefits the Wings of Mercy West Michigan & The Grand Traverse YMCA. $37; $13 for 13 & under. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/TraverseCity/TVC5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmw eQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

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13TH ANNUAL BREEZEWAY FALL COLOR CRUISES: Color tour participants pick up goodie bags filled with trip tips, color tour maps, coupons & other surprises at Royal Farms Winery in Atwood between 10am-noon. Participants then proceed at their own pace along C-48 The Breezeway, stopping, shopping, dining or enjoying a nature hike at one of the three preserves along the route. End the experience at Boyne Mt. in Boyne Falls with a complimentary chair-lift ride for a breathtaking view atop the mountain.

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23RD ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 10am, Downtown Bellaire. Today includes the Scarecrow Extravaganza: “Welcome to the Jungle,” Halloween Dress Rehearsal/Dress Up & Free Family 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Fine Art & Craft Show, Best Dressed Pet Parade,

“Chopped” Tournament of Champions, Short’s Oktoberfest Celebration & more. bellairechamber.org/harvest-festival-and-scarecrowextravaganza/?utm_content=Jamie&utm_ source=VerticalResponse&utm_ medium=Email&utm_term=Harvest%20 Festival%26nbsp%3B-%20September%20 25th&utm

sept/oct

25-03

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BLUE RIBBON RUN 5K FOR PROSTATE CANCER: 10am. In memory of Curt Barrons, Byte Productions hosts the Blue Ribbon Run 5K Run/Walk benefiting the local chapter of Us TOO, a prostate cancer education & support group. The start & finish will be at Right Brain Brewery/Byte Productions & the course will take you along the Boardman Lake. This will be the first official 5K to utilize the new section of the Boardman loop from 17th St. to the University Center. This event is timed & open to runners, walkers & virtually. $30 adults, $20 students, 12 & under free. blueribbonrun.com

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

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GRAND TRAVERSE AREA ANNUAL ROCK, GEM & MINERAL SHOW: 10am-5pm, VFW Cherryland Post 2780, TC. Presented by the Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club. Adult entry donation: $2. tcrockhounds.com/trips.html

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NATIONAL ALPACA FARM DAY: 10am-5pm, Cotton Creek Farms, Thompsonville. Featuring live demos, alpaca selfies, meet all 50+ alpacas, feed alpaca babies, learn how to make alpaca rugs & more. Free. cottoncreekfarms.com/event/ national-alpaca-farm-day

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GENO’S CAR SHOW & BVDL FRIENDS’ ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW/FLEA MARKET: 11am, Geno’s Sports Bar & Grill, Thompsonville.

Car show: 12-4pm. $5 entry fee. Registration: 12-2pm. Participant & public voting: 12-4pm.

Top 10 Participant Judged Trophies & People’s Choice Trophy. Please call Geno at 231-3782554 by Sept. 24 to confirm entry. Live entertainment by Duke and the Studebakers. BVDL Friends’ Flea Market & Arts/Crafts Show: 125pm. Entry fee: $10 for 12 ft. of space. Set up at 11am. Sponsored by Friends of the Betsie Valley District Library. Free for public. betsievalleydistrictlibrary.org

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EAST JORDAN FALL FEST: Noon, East Jordan Tourist Park. Featuring live music by Nelson Olstrom, Lou Thumser, Two Track Mind, & Full Circle; food, beer & wine tent, softball tournament, trick-or-treating, & much more. facebook. com/East-Jordan-Fall-Fest-180727646162099

Fall is definitely in the air! There are multiple fall festivals to choose from in northern Michigan on Sat., Oct. 2 including the Beulah Fall Festival in downtown Beulah where the Lord of the Gourd (pictured) will show off his mad carving skills! You can also visit the Acme Fall Festival, Highlands Harvest Event at Boyne Highlands Resort, Empire Hops & Harvest Festival and more. See the Dates section for info!

Petoskey. For “Kindred: Traditional Arts of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians,” & “Through Our Eyes: Crooked Tree Painters’ Studio Exhibition.” The galleries will be open 10am5pm. Art demonstrations & performances will be held throughout the day in conjunction with “Kindred: Traditional Arts of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.” crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/opening-reception-kindredand-through-our-eyes

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CHILI SUPPER & BARN DANCE: 5:308:30pm, Samels Farm, Williamsburg. Enjoy chili & then dance to traditional music. Goodwill offering. samelsfarm.org/events.html

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“ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. This zany comedy follows the Soady men who trek to their little “home away from home” north of Escanaba—the heart and soul of the U.P.—to drink, cause a little bit of trouble, & bag bucks. oldtownplayhouse.com/ performances/main-stage-season/escanaba-inda-moonlight.html

ELK RAPIDS FALL FESTIVAL: Head to downtown Elk Rapids where River Street will be closed from 12-4pm for pumpkin painting, kids games, music, cider & donuts, beer & brats tent, a scarecrow contest, & more. Special guests will include the Christmas reindeer along with Alpacas. Bring the family to play, shop, & dine. Free. facebook.com/downtownelkrapids AUTHOR BEVIN COHEN: 1pm, Bellaire Public Library. This author & seed library guru will speak about herbs: growing, harvesting & using herbs. He will also have his latest book, “The Artisan Herbalist,” available for purchase. bellairelibrary.org

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PAINT & PUMPKINS: 10am-5pm, Sept. 2526, Veteran’s Park, East Jordan. This art & craft show is held in conjunction with the East Jordan Fall Fest.

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IN STORE BOOK SIGNING: 2-4pm, Horizon Books, TC. Dave Hardin will sign his book “Standpipe,” a memoir of his work as a Red Cross volunteer delivering emergency water to residents of Flint, MI. A collection of short essays & vignettes, “Standpipe” sets the struggles of a city in crisis against David Hardin’s personal journey as his mother declines into dementia & eventual death, just before the emergency is declared in Flint. horizonbooks.com/event/storebook-signing-dave-hardin-standpipe

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OPENING RECEPTION, CTAC, PETOSKEY: 3-5pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Galleries,

18 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

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T.A.C.K.L.E. GLOW RUN/WALK: 7:30pm, Otsego Resort, Gaylord. On 2.5 mile cross-country trail. Check-in begins at 6:30pm. Register. $15; 5 & under, free. give.otsegofoundation.org/ event/tackle-glow-run-walk/e352974

sept sunday 26 -------------

PAINT & PUMPKINS: (See Sat., Sept. 25) RED WINGS TRAINING CAMP: (See Sat., Sept. 25)

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GRAND TRAVERSE AREA ANNUAL ROCK, GEM & MINERAL SHOW: 11am-4pm, VFW Cherryland Post 2780, TC. Presented by the Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club. Adult entry donation: $2. tcrockhounds.com/trips.html

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FIRST ANNUAL WALLOON LAKE CHILI COOK OFF FOR CHARITY: Village Green Park, Walloon Lake. The event begins at noon, when guests can begin to taste the competitor’s

chili & cast their votes for the best in Walloon. Tasting ends at 3:15pm & the winner will be announced at 3:30pm. A $7 ticket will be available on-site for all tastings & a bowl of your favorite dish. There will also be face painting, yard games, & more. wmta.org/first-annual-walloon-lake-chili-cook-offfor-charity/?utm_source=Press+Contacts&utm_ campaign=887287452e-Press+Release_ COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ b6e989f175-887287452e-271

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FRIENDS OF TADL FALL BOOK SALE: 123pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Adult & children’s books, $1 each OR fill a grocery bag for $10. Adult CDs: 10 for $5; children’s CDs: 5 for $3; DVDs: 12 for $10. tadl.org/friends

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AMERICAN VIOLIN: CONTEMPORARY MUSIC OF AMERICA: 2pm, Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. Join internationally acclaimed violinist Hal Grossman & Jeffrey Gilliam presenting newly composed American works for violin & piano. $10-$35. ci.ovationtix. com/35295/performance/10752924

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LEELANAU WELLNESS NETWORKING EVENT: Meet the Collective. Join any time between 5:15-7pm for a wellness community networking event at Dune Bird Winery, Northport.

Free. leelanauwellnesscollective.com

sept monday 27 --------------

RED WINGS TRAINING CAMP: (See Sat., Sept. 25)

STATE SEN. CURT VANDERWALL HOURS: 1:30-2:30pm, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac. Open to residents of the 35th District to express their opinions or concerns about state government or to request assistance with a state issue. 1-855-347-8035.

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TOWN HALL MEETING: “PARENTING TEENS DURING TOUGH TIMES”: 6-7:30pm, Otsego County Library, Gaylord. Mental Health, Re-Socialization, Character Building. Panelists include Heidi Fraser, Blue Devil Wellness

counselor; Matt Muladore, Undersheriff; Brittany Gunderson, varsity coach; & Elizabeth Pallarito, student. For info, email: e.templeton@nwhealth. org. Free.

---------------------AUDITIONS FOR “ALL TOGETHER NOW!”: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. This global event celebrating local theatre has roles for people ages 10 & up. Auditionees must prepare 16 bars of any song that best shows their vocal skills & bring the sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. Performances will be Nov. 12-13. Free. oldtownplayhouse. com/get-involved/auditions.html

sept tuesday 28 --------------

RED WINGS TRAINING CAMP: (See Sat., Sept. 25)

OUTDOOR PRESCHOOL STORY TIME, SUTTONS BAY BINGHAM DISTRICT LIBRARY: 10:30am. Weather permitting, story time will be held under the big tree by the beach in Suttons Bay. Free. sbbdl.org

---------------------AUDITIONS FOR “ALL TOGETHER NOW!”: (See Mon., Sept. 27)

sept wednesday 29

HAILAND & HELSTROM NATURE PRESERVES WALK: 6-7:30pm. Park at West Conway Rd. entrance, Harbor Springs. Hike through both preserves & discuss the plants & animals found in these habitats. You will also learn about ecosystem services, & how these natural spaces provide benefits to the people living around them. Register. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-4468547

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BENZIE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville.

Will include a new book launch, the premiere of a virtual tour video series, & an update on the Benzie Area Historical Society and Museum.

The evening will begin with a reception on the Crystal Mountain lodge deck at 6:30pm. Light hors d’oeuvres & refreshments will be offered with a cash bar. The business meeting will begin at 7:00pm & will be followed by the “South Frankfort Iron Works” virtual tour & author Chuck Kraus’ “Thompsonville in Time” presentation.

RSVP: info@benziemuseum.org. Free. benziemuseum.org

---------------------THE ACCIDENTALS & SAWYER FREDERICKS - ALBUM RELEASE TOUR: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. The Accidentals & Sawyer Fredericks are both set to release new albums. The Accidentals release their longawaited Vessel album, a collection of indie rock & punk folk. Sawyer Fredericks joins them, touring his new album Flowers for You. $25, $50, $100. cityoperahouse.org/node/389?mc_ cid=5b30993844&mc_eid=36a666ea46

sept thursday 30

COFFEE @ TEN, PETOSKEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. With Regina Brubacker-Carver, held in conjunction with the exhibit “Kindred: Traditional Arts of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.”

Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey-ctaconline/coffee-10-regina-brubacker-carver

---------------------CONNECTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON: 11:30am, Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery, Petoskey. Petoskey Chamber President Nikki Devitt will lead the group through discussions about networking. Nikki will then lead three fun networking exercises to help you learn a few new networking tricks. $30 for CWIB members; $35 for not-yet-members. Register.

petoskeychamber.com/events/details/cwib-luncheon-september-30-2021-26474

---------------------CONNECTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS HAPPY HOUR: 4-6pm, Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery, new porch, Petoskey. Enjoy a drink & snacks while Petoskey Chamber President Nikki Devitt leads two fun networking exercises to help you learn a few new networking tricks. $30 CWIB members; $35 not-yet-members. Register. petoskeychamber.com/events/details/cwibhappy-hour-september-30-2021-26475

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MLS# 1892451 $550,000 - NEW LISTING!

MLS# 1887901 $1,495,000 - Available!

You will want to come see this beautiful spot of Leelanau County. The 1,174 square foot home has an open floor plan with bedrooms on both ends. The home features an unfinished walk out basement, for an additional two bedrooms, if desired. The home has custom hardwood floors, a Chefs kitchen with commercial stove and oven range.

New in the last two years are the refrigerator, dishwasher and pressure tank. There is also a 2,640 square foot heated pole building with a work shop in the front and a man cave in the back.

Located on the East side of Big Glen Lake, this Award winning, Leelanau County/Glen Lake restaurant, Trattoria Funistrada, well loved by locals and summer visitors alike, is being offered for sale. As a “turn-key business” it includes all licenses, fixtures, supplies, furniture and management help with the transfer of ownership. This is a year around business that enjoys much support during the off season by locals and winter visitors.

Known for their wonderful menu, wine list and dedicated staff, Funistrada is a destination restaurant.

---------------------OTSEGO COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE ANNUAL PARTNER CELEBRATION: 4:30pm, The Ellison Place, Gaylord. Hors d’oeuvres & cash bar from 4:30-6pm. Program begins at 6pm. Featuring keynote speakers Christopher B. Shepler, president, Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service, & Brandie Meisner, CFO, M&M Excavating. $30/person or $300 for a table of 10. 989-731-0287.

---------------------HIKE & HOPS: 5:30-7pm, Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Nature Preserve, Charlevoix. Presented by Little Traverse Conservancy. The 1.5-mile trail traverses through a mix of apple orchards, woods, & farm fields, & follows a section of the Inwood Creek.

After the hike, you’ll gather at Bier’s Inwood Brewery for drinks & pizza. Please park at the brewery.

Reservations required. Free. landtrust.org/events

---------------------AUTHORS STEVE & KATHIE LIBERT: 7-8:30pm, Charlevoix Public Library. These authors of “Le Griffon and the Huron Islands 1679” will reveal the location of the elusive Huron Islands where Robert La Salle’s flagship Le Griffon met her fate. Presented by the Charlevoix County Democratic Party. RSVP: democrats.charlevoix. rsvp@gmail.com. Suggested donation: $10.

---------------------LE CIRQUE ESPRIT: 7:30pm, Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. Live music by contemporary pioneers cordis, Le Cirque Esprit presents its latest creation, Spirit of the Machine. The new show is based on the Greek mythological tale of Talos— “the first machine”—& was inspired by cordis’ epic multi-movement suite, The Only, which features mechanical instruments such as a 1902 Victor Talking Machine, a large custom-made music box, & a pocket watch. This new show is packed with acrobatics & aerial acts paired with classic steampunk-era circus artistry. $10-$40. ci.ovationtix.com/35295/production/1060055

WE HAVE BUYERS LOOKING! Have you thought about selling your property? Here is a list of our agents and what they have current buyers for! If you have a property that fits, call us! We can sell it!

Rob Serbin: Glen Lake Waterfront (Little and Big Glen) North shore Big Glen Lake (specifically) and Large Acreage properties (80 acres or more) Gil and Betsy Webb: Lake Michigan or Glen Lake Waterfront, Homes in Glen Arbor and/or Empire Village proper

TJ Shimek: Homes in the 200k to 400k range in Leelanau, Benzie or Grand Traverse counties Nick Vanden Belt: Homes/Condos in the Homestead Resort, Glen Arbor waterfront and large acreage (development opportunities) Ron Raymond: Big Glen Lake, Northwood Drive in Glen Arbor, or Large acreage properties

231-334-2758

www.serbinrealestate.com

---------------------THE ACCIDENTALS & SAWYER FREDERICKS - ALBUM RELEASE TOUR: (See Weds., Sept. 29)

oct 01

friday

COFFEE @ TEN WITH PATRICK EARL HAMMIE: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Rotunda, TC. Patrick is the featured artist of Foreword: A Solo Exhibition by Patrick Earl Hammie.

He uses figuration across traditional media to examine past & present black diasporic experiences & think-through themes related to cultural identity, social equity, narrative, & the body in visual culture. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity-ctac-online/coffee-ten-patrick-earl-hammie

---------------------SWINGSHIFT AND THE STARS: Nonprofits AC Paw, COGNiTiON & Love Thy Neighbor are participating this year for your donation. New this year… the virtual experience “Beyond the Competition,” where you can watch, vote & donate to your favorite nonprofit from the comfort of your very own screen. Airing Oct. 1-2 at 7pm & a 3pm matinee on Oct. 3. Free; viewing donation requested. swingshiftandthestars.org

s 0

---------------------AGED TO PERFECTION READERS’ THEATRE PRESENTS “ONLY ON PIZZA”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. When once-upon-a-time sweethearts reconnect over a drink at their class reunion, they begin a bittersweet journey together down Memory Lane. But when various characters ap-

144 E FRONT ST MO-SAT 10-6 TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684 SUN CLOSED www.plamondons.com Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 19

ARTS ACADEMY “COLLAGE”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring live performances by the Interlochen Arts Academy’s musicians, actors, & dancers. Readings by creative writers, shorts by filmmakers, & a visual arts exhibition round out this whirlwind tour of the arts. $30 full price; $14 student. interlochen. org/events/arts-academy-collage-2021-10-01

---------------------BEN WHITING: DIRTY MINDS: 7:30-9:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey.

Watch what you’re thinking during this liveon-stage, NSFW magic & mind reading show.

Laugh out loud from start to finish as comedic entertainer Ben Whiting brings you magic & mind reading, all while tickling your funny bone.

For ages 18+. $25 members, $35 non-members, $10 students (18-21). crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/ben-whiting-dirty-minds

---------------------LE CIRQUE ESPRIT: (See Thurs., Sept. 30)

oct 02

saturday

ART BEAT: Mullaly’s 128 Studio & Gallery in downtown Elk Rapids, Blue Heron Gallery on the east side, & Twisted Fish Gallery, just south of town, will celebrate their long history of serving the arts by offering a fun, “Eight Days of Art” promotion, Oct. 2-9. You will also be invited to enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate at each gallery. facebook.com/ARTBEAT-107006318385379

---------------------SLEEPING BEAR MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K RACES: 7:30am, 9922 W. Front St., Empire. The out-and-back marathon course

---------------------8TH ANNUAL LEIF ERIKSSON DAY ROW & RUN: 8am, Depot Beach, Charlevoix. This event consists of a one-mile boat race & 5K foot race, & celebrates the life of Leif Eriksson. All net proceeds support the Rayder Den at Charlevoix Community Schools. Beginning at Depot beach, the one-mile boat race leads participants to Ferry Beach. The 5K will traverse along a road course in the city of Charlevoix. Registration up to 9/18 is $30. After 9/18 the price is $35. Sign up the day of the event is $40. $35. active.com/ charlevoix-mi/running/distance-running/leif-eriksson-day-row-and-run-2021

---------------------13TH ANNUAL BREEZEWAY FALL COLOR CRUISES: Color tour participants pick up goodie bags filled with trip tips, color tour maps, coupons & other surprises at Royal Farms Winery in Atwood between 10am-noon. Participants then proceed at their own pace along C-48 The Breezeway, stopping, shopping, dining or enjoying a nature hike at one of the three preserves along the route. End the experience at Boyne Mt. in Boyne Falls with a complimentary chair-lift ride for a breathtaking view atop the mountain.

---------------------ACME FALL FESTIVAL: 10am-4pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Featuring the Little Miss Acme Contest, Munson Hospice Memorial Butterfly Release, Talk Like a Pirate Contest with Capt. Brown Beard & Tommy Tortuga, Tommy Tropic, Grand Traverse Butterfly House Educational Butterfly Release, Best of Fall Fest Competition, Classic Car, Tractor & Motorcycle Show, petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, pony

rides, GT County Sheriff’s Drone & K9 Unit & much more. Proceeds benefit TART Trails. acmefallfestival.org

---------------------BEULAH FALL FESTIVAL: 10am-5pm, Downtown Beulah. Pumpkin decorating, a visit from the Lord of the Gourd, sidewalk chalk art, face painting & kid’s games, mask & trick-or-treat bag painting, a classic car & motorcycle show, & horse drawn wagon rides. Free. clcba.org/event/fall-festival

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DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY HAPPY APPLE DAYS: 10am-6pm. Downtown TC merchants will provide complimentary apples & lots of sales. downtowntc.com/happy-apple-days

---------------------FALL CRAFT SHOW: 10am-4pm, Elks Lodge, 625 Bay St., TC. Proceeds will benefit the Belay My Last Barracks transitional housing facility in South Boardman. elkstc.com

---------------------NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP: 10am-noon, Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. For 11th & 12th graders. Screenwriter, author & journalist Andrew Lewellen brings writing to the silver screen with this two-day workshop. Whether you’re drawn to movies or TV, this course will teach you how to turn your idea for a story into a script. You’ll learn the technique, structure, & storytelling skills that enable you to write a script that brings your story to life. This workshop is open only to fully vaccinated participants. Registration closes when the maximum number of students (15) register, or by Sept. 28. Free. nationalwritersseries. org/writing-workshops/screenwriting-workshop2021/?utm_source=National+Writers+Series+ Email+Audience&utm_campaign=01ecad78ceEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_09_19_04_25&utm_ medium=em

---------------------TC GERMANFEST - FAMILIENFEST: 10am2pm, Trinity Lutheran School, under Bavarian tent, TC. New to TC Germanfest this year is Familienfest. This a free, family-friendly event

GR Auto Gallery - 5555 Brentwood Ave., Grawn Appetizers by Dawn’s Catering Beer and wine by Rare Bird and The Parlor Prizes: $350 high-end vehicle detailing from Exotic Detailing $150 Downtown Traverse City gift card All Recess attendees will be required to wear masks to protect each other.

Recess is brought to you by

sept 19

20 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

REC

WEDNESDAY, OCT 6 • 5PM-7PM

open to the public & all ages. Drop in for games & prizes. Food will be available for purchase. tcgermanfest.org

---------------------HIGHLANDS HARVEST EVENT: 11am-4pm, Boyne Highlands Resort, Harbor Springs. Take a scenic chairlift ride to Upper Camelot where you can take in the fall colors & Pure Michigan views.

At the top there will be activities for everyone, including face painting & s’mores, as well as food & beverage with a focus on Michigan made products. Live music & cooler breezes will fill the air. All chair lift rides are complimentary. boynehighlands. com/events/highlands-harvest-event

---------------------COLORS BY THE LAKE: 10am-5pm, Oct. 2-3, Village Park Green, Walloon Lake. Fall art & craft show featuring paintings, sculptors, butterfly art, fresh bread, hot cider, jewelry & much more. daniellesblueribbonevents.com

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ST. JOSEPH OLD MISSION PENINSULA FALL FESTIVAL: 11am, St. Joseph Catholic Church, TC. Includes wine tasting served from all 11 wineries on Old Mission Peninsula, authentic Mexican food from the Hispanic Community Catholic Church, & kids tent with games & prizes, face painting, Corn Hole Tournament, 50/50 raffle & numerous gifts from all over the region. Free entry. stjosephtc.org

----------------------

MEET MICHIGAN POET JOSEPH HOWARD: 11:30am-1:30pm, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord.

Joseph Howard’s poetry evokes the strong emotions of a man struggling with loving an addict.

While his story is a difficult one, he shares what he has learned with sensitivity & thoughtfulness.

Get your copy of “Princess in the Night” signed. saturnbooksellers.com/event/meet-michiganpoet-joseph-howard

---------------------21ST ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 124pm, Chateau Chantal, TC. 1pm: Public Cellar Tour. Learn the basics of winemaking from vine to glass as you stroll through the working cel-

S! S E UR

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will take runners by the “Dune Climb,” past Little Glen Lake, & through the village of Glen Arbor with breathtaking views of the Manitou Islands & Sleeping Bear Dunes along the way. The half marathon & 5k will follow the same course as the marathon, with the half marathon turning around at the 6.5 mile mark, & the 5k turning around at 1.5 miles. $100, $90, $40; $45 for virtual; prices increase after 10/1. sleepingbearmarathon.com

O

pear to tell their own stories, the two begin to see each other & their lives differently. While they cannot go back, they realize they can go forward. Freewill donation. oldtownplayhouse.com

Y HAPP

H

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: 2021 TOUR: 8-10pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. Melissa Etheridge is one of rock music’s great female icons. Her critically acclaimed eponymous debut album was certified double platinum. Etheridge’s popularity built around such memorable songs as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” & “Ain’t It Heavy” for which she won her first Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal.

Etheridge hit her commercial & artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am, featuring the massive hits “I’m the Only One” & “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought her a second Grammy. $60, $70, $75. lrcr.com/event-calendar/concerts/melissaetheridge-2021-tour

lar. 2pm: Grape Stompin’. Also enjoy Patrick’s Pumpkin Patch & more. chateauchantal.com

---------------------EMPIRE HOPS & HARVEST FESTIVAL: 126pm, Downtown Empire. Beverages from Lake Ann Brewery, St. Ambrose, Right Brain Brewery & Stormcloud Brewery will be available, & Art’s Tavern, Mama Lu’s & others will be serving up food. Live music by 5th Gear & The Benzie Playboys. Free parking two blocks north of Front St. in Johnson Park. $10. empirechamber.com/ event/empire-hops-festival

---------------------WOMEN’S MARCH TC 2021: On Oct. 2 thousands of people will take to the streets in DC & all states to mobilize in defense of women’s reproductive freedom. Women’s March TC will gather from 1-2:30pm & line the sidewalks on both sides of the street in front of the Open Space on Grandview Parkway. Bring signs, mask up & practice social distancing.

---------------------THOMPSON SQUARE: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Since breaking out in 2010 with 2X-platinum #1 chart-breaker “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” husband and wife team Keifer and Shawna Thompson have delivered two Top 5 Country albums & another romantic #1 hit with platinum-certified “If I Didn’t Have You” -- plus two more Top 10s with “I Got You” & “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About.” $57, $47, $42, $37. greatlakescfa.org/ events/detail/thompson-square

----------------------

NITRO CIRCUS: 6-8:30pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. “Pushing the limits and breaking boundaries in action sports.” Nitro Circus’ athletes come from all backgrounds & are at the top of their game in FMX, BMX, Skate, Scooter & everything in between. Enjoy their risk-taking spirit in this extreme sports entertainment. Tickets start at $29. facebook.com/ events/915452245884678

oct 03

---------------------SWINGSHIFT AND THE STARS: (See Fri., Oct. 1)

---------------------THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE: 7pm, 4320 E. 46 Rd., Cadillac. “Dumpster-folk/thriftstore Americana duo.” Held at the home of Paul & Nancy Brown. $7-$15. gopherwoodconcerts.org

sunday

ART BEAT: (See Sat., Oct. 2)

--------------

DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY HAPPY APPLE DAYS: (See Sat., Oct. 2)

--------------------COLORS BY THE LAKE: (See Sat., Oct. 2) ----------------------

---------------------AGED TO PERFECTION READERS’ THEATRE PRESENTS “ONLY ON PIZZA”: (See Fri., Oct. 1)

GOOD FIGHT 5K REMEMBRANCE RUN: 10am, GT Civic Center, TC. Calling on participants of all ages & abilities to take on the “good

fight” along-side others who have been impacted in some way by cancer. $5 of each entry fee will be donated by Traverse City Track Club to the Munson Healthcare Foundations’ Cancer Patient Need Fund. $35. runsignup.com/remembrancerun

---------------------AGED TO PERFECTION READERS’ THEATRE PRESENTS “ONLY ON PIZZA”: 2pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. When once-upon-a-time sweethearts reconnect over a drink at their class reunion, they begin a bittersweet journey together down Memory Lane. But when various characters appear to tell their own stories, the two begin to see each other & their lives differently. While they cannot go back, they realize they can go forward.

Freewill donation. oldtownplayhouse.com

---------------------SWINGSHIFT AND THE STARS: (See Fri., Oct. 1)

---------------------MOSTLY MOZART: 4pm, Benzie Central High School Auditorum, Benzonia. Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra concert featuring Carole Scott on flute & Michael Coonrod on piano.

Includes pieces by Gershwin, Mozart, Bach, Delibes, & Lin-Manuel Miranda. 231.889.7182. $15 adults; $10 seniors; under 17 free. benziesymphony.com

ongoing

SCREAMS IN THE DARK: Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, TC. Runs Oct. 1-30 on Fridays & Saturdays from 7-11pm & Sundays from 7-10pm.

There are two tour options: Option 1 includes a wagon ride, haunted trail, The Mausoleum & corn maze while Option 2 includes all the attractions including the wagon ride, haunted trail, Panemonium, Swamp of Suffering & Dreadmoore Manor. evernighthaunt.com/index.html

THE HUNT FOR THE REDS OF OCTOBER: Held on weekdays in October. The Leelanau Peninsula hosts this event that allows consumers to indulge in many of the red wines available on the Leelanau Peninsula, along with taking in beautiful landscapes. Tickets are $35 & include a pour of selected red from each of the participating wineries. $5 of each ticket goes to the American Red Cross Association. lpwines. com/the-hunt-for-reds-of-october

---------------------HARVEST DAYS: Sept. 1-30. Presented by the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. Experience what it’s like to be a wine club member at each of the participating wineries (over 25) & be able to take advantage of exclusive benefits, premiere wine tastings, & product discounts. Each ticket is good for one visit to each winery, & each ticket holder will have access to all of the benefits offered throughout Sept. (Sun. through Fri.). $35. mynorthtickets.com/events/harvestdays-9-1-2021

---------------------GUIDED WALKING HISTORY TOUR OF TRAVERSE CITY: Perry Hannah Plaza, TC. A two mile, 2 1/2 hour walking tour through the historic neighborhoods & waterfront of TC. Every Sat. & Sun. at 2pm. walktchistory.com

---------------------NORTE SUNDAY TRAIL RIDES: Sundays, 11:45am, Timber Ridge, TC. Open to mountain bikers of all ages & abilities, with three different levels & distances (5K, 10K & 25K) to choose from. elgruponorte.org/sundays/?mc_ cid=95b5b3048c&mc_eid=df24b9efb4

RIVIA TUES T M 7-9P

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DRINK SPECIALS (3-6 Tuesday-Friday): $2 well drinks, $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles, $5 Hornitos margarita SUNDAY - $6 Ketel One Bloody Mary & $4 Mimosas DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm):

Tuesday - $1 enchiladas Thursday - $5 fried veggies (cauliflower or mushrooms) Friday - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

Thurs Sept 30th - Thirsty Thursday PATIO ENT Blues Featuring the GTOs INM A T R E ENT 0-9:30) Fri Oct 1st - The 4 Horsemen :3 (6

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the can night - $1 domestic, WedMonday - Get it inSept 27th - Jukebox $3 craft- w/DJ JR

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Fri March 20 - Buckets $8 (2-8pm) $2 domestic drafts & of $3 Beer craft starting drafts fromat9pm-close.

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Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 21

Mike Cummings Broker Owner/Realtor

®

SRS - Sellers Representative Specialist SFR - Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certified US Army Veteran, Licensed Builder, Webmaster, RSPS

Serving 7+ Northern Michigan Counties since 2002

Mike@TCarea.com

Anytime (231)

570-1111

Mike Cummings Broker Owner/Realtor

®

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE SRS - Sellers Representative Specialist SFR - Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certified US Army Veteran, Licensed Builder, Webmaster, RSPS

Serving 7+ Northern Counties since 2002 This is our home, let’s makeMichigan it yours too.

Mike@TCarea.com

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22 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

Maple City Crossings

CRY MACHO

in partnership with the Leelanau County Land Bank Authority The latest film in the ongoing Clint Eastwood farewell tour, Cry Macho is the 39th film the nonagenarian icon has directed, and marks a return to the genre that made him a household name. Almost 30 years since Oscar-winning masterpiece Unforgiven, he returns to the Western and the cowboy archetype. And it is the enduring legacy of his career and all the modern complications that come with it that add weight to a film that might be one of his last -- and here he even literally rides off into the sunset.

Tackling masculinity and what it really means to be a man, Eastwood teams up with an annoying teen boy and cockfighting rooster (who might or might not save the day) in a meandering road movie that for as lifeless as it sometimes feels, moves along in an amiable kind of way.

Set in 1979, Eastwood stars as Mike, an exrodeo star who feels as much of a relic of a bygone culture as Eastwood himself. His old boss (musician Dwight Yoakam, a real treat) visits to call-in a favor. He wants Mike to drive down to Mexico to bring the 14-yearold-son he’s never really known back to his ranch in the States. After a little griping by Mike and little convincing that the son is in danger, Mike heads out on his mission.

He arrives at the home of Leta, the boy’s mother, who surprisingly enough lives in a mansion flanked by security. She invites him in, explains her son is some kind of delinquent, and tries to seduce Mike. When Mike doesn’t reciprocate her advances, she suddenly becomes possessive of the boy.

Mike follows some leads leads and finds the boy, Rafo (Eduardo Minett), in a cockfight ring with his rooster Macho. Turns out Rafo is not so much the monster his mother painted, but just a sad sack, dorky kid who still has hope his father is a good guy.

With Leta’s team of henchmen on their trail, the two head north for the border.

And you know what? Rafo does not prove to be particularly compelling company.

He’s irritating, and the delivery of his undercooked dialogue a little grating.

But then the two settle down in one place, and with it the film hits its stride. They arrive in an idyllic Mexican village, where Marta, the owner of a diner, takes a liking to the pair and offers them shelter and food.

Soon Mike teaches Rafo how to ride and break horses, and he becomes the town’s Dr. Doolittle of sorts while everyone brings their animals for healing.

It’s like he’s landed in a place where anything seems possible. He feels needed for the first

time in a long time, and his low-key romance with Marta is charming. Yet as nice as this detour is, there just isn’t much of an arc. The film ambles along, peters off, then resolves.

Every setback is easily overcome, and no real danger or conflict emerges. It’s all a foregone conclusion. Looking back, it’s unclear how the film filled its nearly two-hour runtime.

Rafo and Mike’s bond and the lessons they learn from each other never comes anywhere close to emotionally fulfilling – in fact it’s borderline silly. This is pretty much a hang out movie, but do you really want to hang out with an irksome, hormonal teenager and a cranky, old man?

And Eastwood is old. Make no bones about out it, he embodies a vulnerability that only comes with advanced age. It seems like he chose to make a road movie, at least in part, because it involves so much sitting. Some scenes are simply built around him being in repose, like when Leta tries to seduce him and he is just lounging on a couch. It’s absurd.

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I could poke more fun at his age, but dang, for 91, Eastwood does not look half bad. And I guess if I still had the clout to get a movie made and cast myself as a viable sexual object for much younger women as I approach my centennial, then yeah, good on me.

It’s almost as though the film relies on the the audience to no see the man in front of them, but the man they remember. Cry Macho has gorgeous scenery and is beautifully shot.

There’s all the familiar western iconography.

You can bask in Eastwood at dusk, riding a horse, in brimmed silhouette, squinting – what more could a Western fan want?

It’s where Cry Macho makes the point that, as Mike explains, “being macho is overrated,” the film most fails its audience, because it never does anything substantial to back this statement up. Ostensibly driven by challenging presiding notions of manliness, but made by someone who has represented those notions for decades, allowing himself to tear up a bit and be nice to a kid isn’t exactly the kind of reformed masculinity I need to see at the present moment.

But reading the film as a farewell fantasy, or fabled last hurrah, is perhaps how Cry Macho is most effective. Because if anything is clear from watching the film, it’s that this sure ain’t Eastwood’s first rodeo.

Meg Weichman is a film archivist, film programmer, and serious film person. Find her on Letterboxd (@ckdexterhaven3) rewatching Armageddon and trying to convince people that Temple of Doom is the best Indiana Jones movie.

WINE TASTING: "AUTUMN IN SPAIN" OCTOBER 4TH - 6 PM to 8 PM | $20/person

Join us for a taste of "Autumn in Spain" as we pour a sampling of 10 Spanish wines paired with a variety of appetizers.

During the event, you will also receive 10% off all cases of your favorite wine.

Call (231) 360-5821 to reserve your seat today!

UPCOMING LIVE MUSIC LINEUP WEDNESDAYS @ 6 PM: Lee Malone & Sandy Metiva THURSDAYS @ 7 PM: Nick Vasquez FRIDAYS @ 8 PM: Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick * Bar will remain open until slow 4990 US-31 N, Central Lake, MI | (231) 599-1111 | TorchLakeCafe.com

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 23

Room to Spread Out 5 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms Includes 2 Lots; Great for Outbuilding Potential Main Level Primary Suite & Laundry Full Walkout & Finished Lower Level 2 Car Garage, Circular Driveway Huge Flex Room, Perfect for Workshop or Man Cave 3110 Zimmerman Road MLS 1892207 | $575,000

Ann Porter

Associate Broker

231.944.4959 Ann@AnnPorterTC.com 522 E Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686

Thinking of selling or purchasing your home or lot?

CALL SUE FINLEY TODAY! SUE FINLEY Broker, REALTOR

nitelife

sept 25- oct 03 edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC 9/29 -- Eric Clemons, 7:30-10:30 10/1 -- Matt Mansfield, 8-11

6:30-9:30 9/30 -- Jimmy Olson, 7-10 10/2 -- Dave Crater, 6:30-9:30

PARK PLACE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER, TC 10/1 -- Randy Reszka, 8-10

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 9/25 -- Stonefolk, 7 Tue -- TC Celtic, 6:30 Wed -- Jazz Show, 6 10/1 -- Sturtz, 7 10/2 -- Jakey Thomas, 7

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC 10/1 -- Chris Smith, 5-8

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO, 6:30-9:30: 9/25 -- 1000 Watt Trio

THE PARLOR, TC 9/25 -- Ryan Younce & Luke Allen,

9/30 -- The GTOs 10/1 -- The 4 Horsemen UNION STREET STATION, TC 9/25 -- Electric Red, 10 9/26 & 10/3 -- Karaoke, 10 9/27 -- Jukebox, 10 9/28 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; Electric Open Mic, 10-2 9/29 -- DJ JR, 10 9/30 -- Q100 Live, 10 10/1-2 -- The Marsupials, 10

Antrim & Charlevoix ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS 8-11: 9/25 -- Myron Elkins & The Dying Breed 10/2 -- Blair Miller HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE 9/28 -- Doc Woodward, 7:30-9:30 10/1 -- Rick Woods, 6-9 MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE 7:30-10:30: 9/26 -- Clint Weaner 9/30 -- Jessica Dominic

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, CENTRAL LAKE 9/30 -- Eric Clemons, 7:30-10:30 PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY 9/29 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6 SHORT’S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 8:30-11:30: 9/25 -- The Pocket 10/2 -- Biomassive SHORT’S BREWING PULL BARN TAPROOM, ELK RAPIDS

(231) 881-0091 sfinley@lakehomes.com

9/25 -- Chris Michels Band, 6:30 STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN, BOYNE CITY 10/2 -- Stiggtoberfest with Pete Jensen, 6-9 TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, EASTPORT (US 31/M-88) Weds. -- Lee Malone & Sandy Metiva, 6 Thurs. – Nick Vasquez, 7:30 Fri. & Sat. -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 8:30

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 9/25 & 10/1 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

BENNETHUM’S NORTHERN INN, GAYLORD 9/28 – Nelson Olstrom, 5-8

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 10/2 -- Octoberfest with Jelly Roll Blues Band, 6-10

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA 10/1 -- Seth Bernard, 6-9

Emmet & Cheboygan BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY 9/25 -- Charlie Millard Band, 7 9/26 -- Celtic & Traditional Irish Session, 6-9 BIERE DE MAC BREW WORKS, MACKINAW CITY BACKYARD: 10/1 -- Charlie Millard Band, 7:30

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY PATIO: 9/25 -- Chase & Allie, 2-6 10/1 -- Michelle Chenard, 4-7:30 10/2 -- Tyler Parkin, 2-6 MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR 7:30-10:30: 9/25 -- Tic-Tac-Go

9/29 -- Eric Jacqua 9/30 -- The Real Ingredients ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY MUKWA BAR & GRILL: 9/25 -- Chris Calleja, 9 VICTORIES, 9: 9/25 -- Scarkazm 10/1 -- TC Knuckleheads

Leelanau & Benzie BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR Tue -- Live Music, 5-8

2-4 9/30 -- Paul Koss & Chris Skellenger, 5-8

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY 9/26 -- Larry Perkins, 2-4:30 9/30 -- Sturtz, 5-7:30

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE 6-8: 9/25 – Patty Pershayla 10/2 – Sturtz LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 9/28 -- Wink Solo, 6:30-9:30 10/1 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10 10/2 -- Pat Niemisto & Chris Skellenger, 2:30-5:30

DICK’S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

24 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARDS, CEDAR 9/29 -- John Rutherford & Friends,

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 4-7: 9/29 -- Bill Frary 9/30 -- Wink STORMCLOUD BREW PUB, FRANKFORT 7-9: 9/25 -- Blake Elliott 10/2 -- Sean Miller THE UNION, NORTHPORT Wed -- Jazz w/ Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7-9:30

the ADViCE GOddESS Bedder Later

Q

: I’m a woman in my 20s seeking a boyfriend. On the first date, I like to have a few drinks and, if the guy and I hit it off, have sex to see whether we have physical chemistry. Lately, I’ve had a string of great first dates — flowing conversation, emotional rapport, and what seemed to be long-term potential — yet they all ghosted me after sex.

Are men still living in the Victorian Age? — Confused

A

: The wait to have sex with you mirrors the mandatory waiting period to buy a plastic squirt gun.

That said, you aren’t wrong to want to figure out up front whether there’s sexual chemistry.

As for just how “up front” to do that, there’s reason to slow your roll — even if it means you get involved with a few guys who turn out to be sexual duds.

Because a woman can get pregnant from a single ill-advised naked romp, women evolved to be the “choosier” sex — to take a “hmm, we’ll see...” approach: stand back and assess a man’s potential to “provide” and willingness to commit before dropping their panties (and everything else) on his bedroom floor.

Men co-evolved to expect female choosiness and to need to prove themselves over time to women of high mate value: women who can hold out for just the right guy. In short, men tend to value (and stick around for) what’s hard to, uh, grope.

Women are also more likely to succumb to a sort of alcohol-induced blindness, which psychiatrist Andy Thomson, in an email to evolutionary psychologist David Buss, called the “Prosecco perception bias,” after the Italian sparkling wine. Buss, who included this in his book, “When Men Behave Badly,” explains that women have less of the alcoholdetoxifying enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase.

(That’s why women get more rapidly drunk than men, even when they throw back less alcohol per pound of body weight.) “Because alcohol stimulates bonding endorphins, women are more likely to misread interactions with men” when tipsy, Buss explains, and “overestimate the likelihood of an emotional bond and a long-term relationship.”

Sure, there are blissful long-term relationships that started out with no-strings-attached sex.

However, because you’re a woman hoping to find a boyfriend, having sex on the first date is a risky strategy. There’s a way to get a guy to stick around after sex, and it’s to wait to have it till he’s got feelings for you — though,

BY Amy Alkon admittedly, zip-tying him to your headboard works, too.

Ghosting Story

Q

: I’m a straight guy using dating apps. What’s with the constant flaking guy friends and I experience from women we’re meeting for first dates? One woman on Hinge texted me to confirm 30 minutes before we were meeting at a bar but never showed and stopped responding to my texts. The next day, she complained that her phone had died. Another girl on Bumble agreed to have drinks, but when I texted her the day of, she unmatched. This extreme rudeness only happens with women I meet on dating apps, not those I meet in person, like at a friend’s party. Any idea why?

— Disturbed

A

: There are valid reasons to be a noshow for a date with no explanation, for example, the experience so many of us have of being abducted by aliens who don’t have a charger that fits our phone.

This rudeness you’re experiencing — all these women treating you like a disposable object instead of a person with feelings — isn’t caused by app use, per se. The problem, as I explain in “Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck,” is that we are now “living in societies too big for our brains”: vast, transient “strangerhoods.”

We didn’t evolve to be around strangers and aren’t psychologically equipped to live in a world filled with them because the psychology still powering our thinking (and behavior) today is adapted for small ancestral hunter-gatherer societies. Ancestral humans might’ve been stuck with pretty much the same 25 people for much of their lives (per estimates by anthropologists Robert L. Kelly and Irven DeVore) and might’ve have had a larger surrounding society of perhaps 100 to 150 people.

In the tiny ancestral world, the need to preserve one’s reputation was a psychological police force that kept even rotten people from acting their rotten worst. (This is still a factor today in small towns where everybody knows everybody.)

In contrast, strangers “meeting” in the virtual world — on apps that are basically eBay for dates — have no shared social context, so...byebye fear of reputational ruin!

In other words, when connecting via an app, it’s probably a good idea to expect unreliability. You might even bring a book to read in case a woman ends up running a little late — uh, intends to leave you sitting there at the bar until you decompose.

“Jonesin” Crosswords "Make Light Work"--paying respects with a notable joke. by Matt Jones

ACROSS 1 Printer cartridge color 5 Sports reporter Andrews 9 Bee-related 14 Emmett Kelly persona 15 Dynamic prefix 16 “Death Be Not Proud” poet John 17 “Jane ___” 18 Greek island and titular home of the Louvre’s “Winged Victory” statue 20 Extinct beast with a trunk 22 Thurman of “The War with Grandpa” 23 Dubai’s country, briefly 24 “Who is, um, ___-Doo?” (response from Burt Reynolds, er, Turd Ferguson) 27 Petco Park player 29 Field figure 32 Leaves in the cup 33 Fourth word in the “Star Wars” opening crawl 35 “Lord of the Rings” actress Tyler 37 Sunlight unit 38 Whence aliens originate, in some sci-fi works 43 Not just mine 44 Barge puller 45 Pronoun option 46 Place to play the ponies, briefly 47 Rockefeller Center setting, for short 49 Attorney-___ 53 “Town Called Malice” band 57 Regatta requirement 59 “As Is” singer DiFranco 60 “The Living Daylights” star 64 It’s celebrated in May 66 4, on some old clock faces 67 Words often paired with “Come on!”

68 Pot throw-in 69 Saint ___ Bay, Jamaica 70 Braces (for) 71 Yearn for 72 Insect found in the theme entries (and the subject of a famous joke told by Norm Macdonald)

DOWN 1 Ruin, like a pet owner’s favorite pillow 2 His cello is nicknamed “Petunia” 3 On a gap year, maybe 4 63-Down’s brother and former bandmate 5 Class with little struggle 6 Tool for enlarging holes 7 “Garfield” waitress 8 Weight-loss app whose subscription fees got flak from the BBB in 2020 9 Committee type 10 ___-Novo (Benin’s capital) 11 Where travelers can be put up 12 Anti-apartheid org.

13 “Born,” in some notices 19 Many commercial logos (abbr.)

21 “Hasta ___” (“See you later”) 25 Necklace unit 26 Orange side dish 28 Joe Namath’s last pro team 30 Poetic lament 31 Cone producer 34 Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mel 36 Beetles, e.g.

37 Novelist ___ Easton Ellis 38 Pedal pusher 39 The “R” of “Notorious RBG” 40 Jacks ___ (video poker variety) 41 Attila, for one 42 Catherine of “Schitt’s Creek” 48 Road Runner’s foe 50 “Hispanic, ___, or Spanish origin” (U.S. census category) 51 Apply holy oil 52 Sorta alcoholic and aromatic, maybe 54 It means “struggle” in Arabic 55 Answers from a flock 56 Fez’s country (abbr.)

58 Tossed in 61 More ___ enough 62 Sharpen, as skills 63 4-Down’s brother and former bandmate 64 “Top Gun” aircraft 65 “Cheerleader” singer

Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 25

lOGY

SEPT 27 - OCT 03

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the English language, the words “naked”

and “nude” have different connotations. Art critic Kenneth Clark noted that “naked” people depicted in painting and sculpture are “deprived of clothes,” and embarrassed as a result. Being “nude,” on the other hand, has “no uncomfortable overtone,” but indicates “a balanced, prosperous, and confident body.” I bring this to your attention because I believe you would benefit from experiencing extra nudity and no nakedness in the days ahead. If you choose to take on this assignment, please use it to upgrade your respect and reverence for your beauty. PS: Now is also a favorable time to express your core truths without inhibition or apology. I urge you to be your pure self in all of your glory.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet Anne Sexton wrote, “One has to get their own animal out of their own cage and not look for either an animal keeper or an unlocker.” That’s always expert advice, but it will be extra vital for you to heed in the coming weeks. The gorgeous semi-wild creature within you needs more room to run, more sights to see, more adventures to seek. For that to happen, it needs to spend more time outside of its cage. And you’re the best person to make sure that happens.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) could be a marvelous friend. If someone he cared for was depressed or feeling lost, he would invite them to sit in his presence as he improvised music on the piano. There were no words, no advice—only emotionally stirring melodies. “He said everything to me,” one friend said about his gift. “And finally gave me consolation.” I invite you to draw inspiration from his example, Sagittarius. You’re at the peak of your powers to provide solace, comfort, and healing to allies who need such nurturing. Do it in whatever way is also a blessing for you.

for a new lover. I’m interested in inspiring you to ruminate about what alliances you should cultivate during the coming months.

Here’s what AnaSophia finds attractive: “strong desire but not neediness, passionate sensitivity, effortlessness, authenticity, innocence of perception, sense of humor, vulnerability and honesty, embodying one’s subtleties and embracing one’s paradoxes, acting unconditionally and from the heart.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author

Roberto Bolaño confessed, “Sometimes I want greatness, sometimes just its shadow.” I appreciate his honesty. I think what he says is true about most of us. Is there anyone who is always ready for the heavy responsibility of pursuing greatness? Doubtful. To be great, we must periodically go through phases when we recharge our energy and take a break from being nobly ambitious. What about you, dear Taurus? If I’m reading the omens correctly, you will benefit from a phase of reinvention and reinvigoration. During the next three weeks, you’ll be wise to hang out in the shadows of greatness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Have fun, even

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): At age

23, Capricorn-born Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (1721–1764) became French King Louis XV’s favorite mistress. She was not born into aristocracy, but she wielded her Capricornian flair with supreme effectiveness. Ultimately, she achieved a noble title as well as high prestige and status in the French court. As is true for evolved Capricorns, her elevated role was well-deserved, not the result of vulgar socialclimbing. She was a patron of architecture, porcelain artwork, and France’s top intellectuals. She ingratiated herself to the King’s wife, the Queen, and served as an honored assistant. I propose we make her your role model for the next four weeks.

May she inspire you to seek a boost in your importance and clout that’s accomplished with full integrity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The bad news

is that artist Debbie Wagner was diagnosed with two brain tumors in 2002. The good news is that surgery not only enabled her to survive, but enhanced her visual acuity. The great news is that on most days since 2005, she has painted a new image of the sunrise. I invite you to dream up a ritual to celebrate your own victory over adversity, Aquarius. Is there a generous gesture or creative act you could do on a semi-regular basis to thank life for providing you with the help and power you needed?

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): A self-described

“anarchist witch” named Lars writes on his Tumblr blog, “I am a ghost from the 1750s, and my life is currently in the hands of a group of suburban 13-year-olds using a ouija board to ask me if Josh from homeroom has a crush on them.” He’s implying that a powerful supernatural character like himself is being summoned to do tasks that are not worthy of him. He wishes his divinatory talents were better used. Are there any resemblances between you and him, Pisces? Do you ever feel as if you’re not living up to your promise? That your gifts are not being fully employed? If so, I’m pleased to predict that you could fix this problem in the coming weeks and months. You will have extra energy and savvy to activate your full potential.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Blogger AnaSophia

was asked, “What do you find attractive in a person?” I’ll reproduce her reply because it’s a good time to think about what your answer would be. I’m not implying you should be looking

if it’s not the same kind of fun everyone else is having,” wrote religious writer C. S. Lewis.

That advice is ten times more important right now than it usually is. For the sake of your body’s and soul’s health, you need to indulge in sprees of playful amusement and blithe delight and tensionrelieving merriment. And all that good stuff will work its most potent magic if it stimulates pleasures that are unique to you— and not necessarily in line with others’ tastes.

NORTHERN EXPRESS

CLAS SIFIE DS

OTHER

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, Mending & Repairs.

Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-228-6248 _____________________________________ COTTAGE FOR RENT Traverse City, 1 BR, Fully Furnished, Includes All Utilities, Washer/ Dryer, Internet, Cable, Very Comfortable, Quiet, Month-to-Month to One Year, $1,400 per month; (231) 631-7512. _____________________________________ MARKETING & PROMOTION SPECIALIST Opening at Northwestern Michigan College NMC is seeking a full-time, year-round Marketing & Promotion Specialist to join our team in the Extended Education Services department. $42,170.00 Salaried with full benefits including 4 weeks off paid vacation. Find out more at nmc. edu/jobs EOE nmc.edu/nondiscrimination _____________________________________ ST JOSEPH’S FALL FEST AND WINE TASTING St Joseph’s Fall Festival on Old Mission Peninsula, 12675 Center Rd, Traverse City 49686 OCTOBER 2nd, ALL wineries of Old Mission Peninsula represented in one place!

Don’t miss it! http://www.stjosephtc.org _____________________________________ AMERICAN SPOON RETAIL Customer Experience Associates American Spoon foods is hiring year around Retail Associates for our Traverse City Store location!

Immediate openings! Will Greet, welcome & provide our customers with an exceptional customer experience while building long-term relationships, promote & provide our customers with information & features of our products.

Assist & advise our customers on product uses, recipes, easy parings etc.For complete Job Description & requirements please access our Website under spoon/careers

CHERRY REPUBLIC DRIVE-UP JOB FAIR Cherry Republic will host a Drive-Up Job Fair at 6026 S. Lake Street on Thursday, September 30th from 3pm-6pm. Several seasonal positions available up to $15 / hour. Online application and RSVP forms are encouraged. See link below for more information. Public is welcome. Other great perks included! http://www.cherryrepublic. com/discover/employment _____________________________________ BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK and FISH SPEARING DECOYS, call text 248 877-0210 _____________________________________ JANITORIAL / MAINTENANCE WORKER Retail setting janitorial for 2 sales floors. Yearround PT, Light mechanical. _____________________________________ DAN’S AFFORDABLE HAULING Hauling junk, misc, yard debris, estate sales, foreclosures.

Free estimates. (231)620-1370 _____________________________________ HANDYMAN WORK I am a dependable and honest handyman that can complete any of the following tasks: Mounting or hanging, minor plumbing tasks, property and patio work, minor electrical repairs or installations, Indoor / outdoor furniture assembly, and hardware help. I service - Alanson, Brutus, Harbor Springs, Pellston, Petoskey, Charlevoix, and Indian River. _____________________________________ INCUBATOR KITCHEN & PART-TIME Help in Food Shop: Limited kitchen availability & need school day help. kitchenrentalstc@gmail.com _____________________________________ UPHOLSTERY AND SEWING: Contact Marcia at 231-342-0962 in TC for all your sewing needs.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): “It is one thing to learn about the past,” wrote Cancerian journalist Kenneth Auchincloss. “It is another to wallow in it.” That’s stellar advice for you to incorporate in the coming weeks. After studying your astrological omens, I’m enthusiastic about you exploring the old days and old ways. I’m hoping that you will discover new clues you’ve overlooked before and that this further information will inspire you to re-envision your life story. But as you conduct your explorations, it’s also crucial to avoid getting bogged down in sludgy emotions like regret or resentment. Be inspired by your history, not demoralized by it.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): Would you like to deepen and strengthen your capacity to concentrate? Cosmic rhythms will conspire in your favor if you work on this valuable skill in the coming weeks. You’ll be able to make more progress than would normally be possible. Here’s pertinent advice from author Harriet Griffey: “Whenever you feel like quitting, just do five more—five more minutes, five more exercises, five more pages—which will extend your focus.”

Here’s another tip: Whenever you feel your concentration flagging, remember what it is you love about the task you’re doing. Ruminate about its benefits for you and others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): What’s your

favorite feeling? Here’s Virgo poet Mary Szybist’s answer to that question: hunger.

She’s not speaking about the longing for food, but rather the longing for everything precious, interesting, and meaningful. She adores the mood of “not yet,” the experience of moving toward the desired thing. What would be your response to the question, Virgo? I’m guessing you may at times share Szybist’s perspective. But given the current astrological omens, your favorite feeling right now may be utter satisfaction—the gratifying sensation of getting what you’ve hungered for. I say, trust that intuition.

26 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly

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Northern Express Weekly • september 27, 2021 • 27

28 • september 27, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly